Movie of the Week: Swallows and Amazons

[jacey]

What can I say about this? Well, I expected it to be a nostalgic trip back to the type of books I read in my childhood (though I admit I never read this one). Sadly it wasn't enough to hold my attention. I have to say that my enjoyment of this was severely curtailed by the audience. Why on earth someone would think it was a suitable movie for a two year old I have no idea, but said two year old was then allowed to run up and down the aisle for the duration. Couple that with a fidgety family kicking my seat at frequent intervals and I may not have been in the most receptive of moods. Yes, I know you can expect children in the audience at a children's film during the school holidays, but is a certain level of good behaviour (from the parents) too much to ask? Am I just a grumpy old git?

Ok, back to the movie... Setting: the Lake District. Time period: 1930s/40s (unspecific, but the book was written in the 30s). The Walker children (the Swallows) are given permission to camp on an island in the middle of a lake. When they get there, they have to battle against a pair of local girls (the Amazons) for control of the island. There's no health and safety rubbish, just four kids in a boat squabbling like kids do until you want to bang their precious little heads together. The book character Titty has been coyly turned into Tatty for obvious reasons. There's a 39-Steps type spy drama grafted on to the original, but I'm not sure it rescues the film. Pity.

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I did read it and loved it (loved Titty and why did I just know they'd change that name?)

Thanks for the heads up as something to avoid- all too many precious childhood memories (and I don't have so very many for obvious reasons) have gone in recent times! :o(

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads up on avoidance.

[sheff-dogs.livejournal.com]

No it ought not to be too much to expect parents to be teaching their children a modicum of civilised behaviour in public. Unfortunately it seems to be beyond some parents.

And thanks for the review, I'll miss this one too,
and keep my fond memories intact.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I never liked Swallows & Amazons as a child and I'm not sure I actually read the book though I watched the TV series. In fact I think I enjoyed it more when I read it a couple of years ago for the OU Children's Literature course.