Watership Down

Name: Watership Down
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Animation
Released: November 1, 1978
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 64
Cast: Denholm Elliott, John Bennett, John Hurt, Michael Graham Cox, Ralph Richardson

1978

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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8.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Ratings

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Watership Down

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Movie Details & Credits

AVCO Embassy Pictures | Release Date: November 1, 1978 | TV-MA

Starring: Denholm Elliott, John Bennett, John Hurt, Michael Graham Cox, Ralph Richardson, Richard Briers, Richard O'Callaghan, Roy Kinnear, Simon Cadell, Terence Rigby

Summary: A group of rabbits flee their doomed warren and face many dangers to find and protect their new home.

Director: Martin Rosen

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Animation

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 91 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Chris Cabin

Martin Rosen’s eloquent, wondrous film offers a deceivingly simple yet powerful view of a war-ridden rabbit society. Read full review

Jay Scott

Rosen has not so much adapted Watership Down as he has intelligently condensed it, and compensated for the simplifications with pleasures books can't provide. [20 Jan 1979]

Tasha Robinson

It’s the work of a director deeply enamored of his source material, and determined to do right by it, even if it means frightening kids, baffling parents, and embracing whatever style works in the moment. Read full review

David Ansen

Rosen's film has none of Baskshi's visual razzle-dazzle, but it is loaded with character, and it has the relentless momentum of a good war movie. [20 Nov 1978, p.79]

Gary Arnold

Barely adequate as a pictorial rendering of the book, the movie still thrives on the rousing nature of this unlikely but enthralling epic. [08 Nov 1978, p.C1]

Staff (Not Credited)

The animation techniques are sophisticated but the story tends to get bogged down in pop philosophy. [01 Mar 2015, p.N]

Staff (Not Credited)

The 'camera' takes a conventionally objective viewpoint, perpetually rolling over rolling countryside, which effectively robs the plot of all its terror and tension. And the bunnies are a crudely drawn, charmless bunch, with the final nail provided by the soundtrack's famous voices, who help turn the film into a radio play. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bertieboy123

Oct 17, 2022

Where to begin with this animation classic,a milestone in independent British cinema and the greatest compliment that could possibly have been bestowed on Richard Adams' great allegorical novel(it's wise to overlook both the kids tv series(1999) and the shoddy Netflix adaptation from 2018

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Panchogul

Mar 21, 2020

Watership Down (1978)

Sinopsis: Valientes conejos emprenden un peligroso viaje a su nuevo hogar en esta versión animada de la novela de Richard Adams. Opinión; Una nada convencional película animada que ni Disney ni Pixar se atrevería a hacer jamás. El contexto y circunstancia son muyWatership Down (1978)

Sinopsis:

Valientes conejos emprenden un peligroso viaje a su nuevo hogar en esta versión animada de la novela de Richard Adams.

Opinión;

Una nada convencional película animada que ni Disney ni Pixar se atrevería a hacer jamás.

El contexto y circunstancia son muy simples, un grupo de conejos que decide huir para encontrar un lugar más seguro para vivir. Pero no nos engañemos, no es una película para todo público, mínimo para pre adolescentes en adelante bajo la supervision de un adulto. No hay contenido sexual del cual preocuparse, pero la historia está, la cual está excelentemente contada, se desarrolla a lo bestia, es a ratos cruda y desoladora como también bella, sin embargo, la constante atmósfera de opresión y oscuridad la hacen pesada de ver y no recomendable para niños, puesto que también contiene breves escenas violentas tomando en cuenta de que es una película de dibujos animados.

La música es bellísima, la animación es majestuosa y natural y personajes con los cuales es fácil encariñarse y preocuparse.

Valoración:

5 ⭐ de 5 ⭐… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

campbellsouptm

Aug 13, 2020

I saw this movie when I was 11. Needless to say it terrified me. I don’t remember much about what happened, but for some reason my memory decided it was one of the best movies ever. Super scary, so I think it serves it’s purpose.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tonyGreen

Feb 15, 2023

A wonderful film for children and adults alike. Certainly a lot darker than a Disney film, so parental guidance advised.
Beautiful animation, great voice acting, and made with much care and sensitivity. The pace is near perfect, an engaging yarn with a satisfying conclusion, and bittersweetA wonderful film for children and adults alike. Certainly a lot darker than a Disney film, so parental guidance advised.
Beautiful animation, great voice acting, and made with much care and sensitivity. The pace is near perfect, an engaging yarn with a satisfying conclusion, and bittersweet denouement.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

It can often be lukewarm, but 'Watership Down' uses great contrasting animations to depict reality, mental breakdowns, and spirituality while also telling a sound and surprisingly violent/gritty plot that deals with politics and slavery. Its mature and semi-slow pace is going to be moreIt can often be lukewarm, but 'Watership Down' uses great contrasting animations to depict reality, mental breakdowns, and spirituality while also telling a sound and surprisingly violent/gritty plot that deals with politics and slavery. Its mature and semi-slow pace is going to be more appealing with older audiences.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

May 14, 2023

I had never read the book or seen the movie, but I knew that both have a cult following and was aware their plot dealt with some serious issues such as totalitarianism, freedom and the fight for survival.

The film does not shy away from showing the harsh realities of nature and the dangersI had never read the book or seen the movie, but I knew that both have a cult following and was aware their plot dealt with some serious issues such as totalitarianism, freedom and the fight for survival.

The film does not shy away from showing the harsh realities of nature and the dangers rabbits face from humans, predators and other rabbits.

The themes are there and, surprisingly, are not sugarcoated despite the fact that this is an animated movie and, of course, one would naturally intuit that this is a story entirely aimed at a children's audience, which is not the case.
Watership Down is a dark and somber tale, and its themes are not aimed at minors who are sensitive or susceptible to cruder material.

In my personal opinion I didn't find anything special in it but it has quality and emotion. The messages are very important and are delivered in a direct way. It has some flaws in terms of pace and impact, but I still liked it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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