An absolute waste of money

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This animated feature film of "Animal Farm" is the first version of George Orwell's famous satire book of the same title. It's surprising that it took Hollywood so long to put this story on film. By the late 1940s there could be no doubt anywhere about the Soviet atrocities under Josef Stalin. No sooner had World War II concluded, than the Soviet Union squared off against the Western powers for the start of the Cold War. Still, it took an American CIA initiative to buy the film rights after Orwell died. That led to this film, although for many years thereafter, no one knew that the film was financed by the CIA. By the late 20th century, Orwell's book was considered a classic. Yet it was delayed for publication nearly two years in England and the U.S. because the U.S.S.R. was an ally during World War II. The book's first printing was in mid-August 1945. The war in Europe had ended and that in the Pacific was coming to a close. Orwell embraced public ownership of industry, but under a democratic government, locally elected. He soon split with others on the left when the U.S.S.R. so quickly became a dictatorship. He wrote "Animal Farm" as a satirical example of the totalitarian methods of Stalin's ascension to power. His story shows how easily the masses were manipulated in the Soviet Union. Of course, no country or leader is named in the book, or the film. But the scenes and stages portrayed in the film follow the steps of the U.S.S.R. since its beginning. This animated version set on a farm has animalism in place of communism. The pigs become the Russian leaders who soon and so easily seem to sway the other animals. The film deviates from the book in places. The ending is completely different and has the animals finally revolting against the pigs. While this cartoon rendition can be a good educational tool, it's not something for young children. That's mostly due to some scenes that can be frightening. The portrayals of some characters are quite ugly and the dogs are shown as vicious beasts. This is a film that modern audiences should watch and pay heed to.

After reading the book, I found this interpretation disappointing to say the least. For example, the animal's singing of "Beasts if England" is disturbing, and Old Major's Death is exceptionally inaccurate. Why, for example, did the producers move the Battle of the Cowshed, representing the Russian Civil War, where the communists reds fought the capitalist whites, to the start of the film! I believe that this was exceptionally close minded of the producers.As my final point, I believe Orwell would turn in his grave upon seeing the historical inaccuracy of the ending. Did he not write the film to warn the public of the dangers of communism, ignorance and apathy! Therefore, I conclude that the film adaptation is disappointing, inaccurate, and lacking in the morale that is so prevalent in the book,

The awful thing was the lack of emotion in the film. The director didn't seem to focus on the talks between the animals. What they focused for that short span of time was how the animals did the work with a very little focus on developing the story. It looked as if I was watching an episode of a big TV Series. It seemed that they were in a rush to include everything present in the book. However it is good to know that at least, some attempt has been made to present this novella visually. The animation can be considered to be a little immature but considering the time it is fairly good. What pains most is the absence of emotions between the animals which was amazingly depicted in the book.Verdict - "Read the book alone and wait for some other version to watch."

George Orwell's novel 'Animal Farm' was a fable that worked as a bang-on critique of the Russian revolution and Stalinism. In it a group of mistreated farmyard animals rise up against their owner and overthrow him. They then briefly form a Utopian society that quickly deteriorates into something very similar to the old system that was in place before.Different animals represent different people. The wise old pig Old Major represents Karl Marx and the beginning of communist teachings; Farmer Jones is Czar Nicholas II and represents the old regime; Napoleon and Snowball the pigs are respectively the ruthless Joseph Stalin and idealistic Leon Trotsky; the pack of dogs are the secret police and violent state enforcement; Boxer represents the hard working peasants; Benjamin, the wise but powerless individual; the sheep the unthinking masses. While Manor Farm itself is Russia and Animal Farm the Soviet Union.The format of the fable works extremely well in illustrating the story of the formation of the USSR. This cartoon version of it is in the main a pretty impressive adaption. While the ending goes against the Dystopian one favoured by Orwell, it's not really surprising that it does this, although it's unfortunate. But it doesn't really damage the film very much as it's central idea remains intact. The animation itself is good enough, and even though there is a lot of narration I didn't consider this to be a problem. I thought that all things considered this was a good stab at an iconic bit of literature.