#748: ROSEN, Martin: Watership Down (1978)

ROSEN, Martin (United States)
Watership Down [1978]
Spine #748
Blu-ray


With this passion project, screenwriter-producer-director Martin Rosen brilliantly achieved what had been thought nearly impossible: a faithful big-screen adaptation of Richard Adam's classic British dystopian novel about a community of rabbits under terrible threat from modern forces. With its naturalistic hand-drawn animation, dreamily expressionistic touches, gorgeously bucolic background design, and elegant voice work from such superb English actors as John Hurt, Ralph Richardson, Richard Briers, and Denholm Elliott, Watership Down is an emotionally arresting, dark-toned allegory about freedom amid political turmoil.

92 minutes
Color
Stereo
1:85:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2015
Director/Writer


Martin Rosen was 42 when he wrote and directed Watership Down.

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twelve-page wraparound featuring an essay by comic book writer Gerard Jones.

Commentary

None.

Interview 1

With director Rosen.

Interview 2

With filmmaker Guillermo del Toro about the film’s importance in animation history.

Picture-in-picture

Storyboards for the entire film.

Defining a Style

A 2005 featurette about the film’s aesthetic.

Trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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