New Trailer for Steven Spielberg's THE BFG

With Jon Favreau's live action adaptation of The Jungle Book rolling out in just over a week Disney (in association with Amblin entertainment) has released the full trailer for director Steven Spielberg's summer fantasy epic that is itself an adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic of the same name. The BFG will mark Spielberg's first trip into children's entertainment since 2011's Adventures of Tintin, but is his first dealing in live action kid-centric material since 1991's Hook. While the set of credentials and talent involved in this project certainly has the film at the top of my most anticipated list I have to admit to being somewhat underwhelmed by this new trailer. The film still has three months before its release date, but it seems to be leaning heavily on CGI and that CGI doesn't come across as the most convincing in this trailer. Spielberg has always been a director of practicality and creating interesting ways to make spectacular things come to life in convincing ways and I feel assured that he has done the same here, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being afraid his older age might be crippling that drive he once possessed. What saves this clip is our extended look at the titular Big Friendly Giant played by Bridge of Spies stand-out and Oscar winner Mark Rylance. Given his subtle, highly nuanced performance in Spies I've been anxious to see what the actor might do with this type of material and he looks to have created a very sympathetic, loving creature who just happens to look like what children imagine monsters to be. Ruby Barnhill also continues to look perfect as the leading young lady with her great sense of innocence and wonder playing perfectly into the fantastical elements of the story. The BFG also stars Rebecca Hall, Bill Hader, Jemaine Clement, Penelope Wilton, Adam Godley and opens on July 1st, 2016.



Synopsis: A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because unlike his peers refuses to eat boys and girls.