If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

I found this more of a cartoon than an animated feature, and quite kiddy-ish, actually. This was just way too far-fetched for an animated film. Not my cup of tea, I'm afraid.

I could have lived without the musical numbers, and the movie did not pull me in the way I hoped it would. BUT it probably captured the bizarre genius storytelling of Roald Dahl better than any other adaptation*, even down to the uneven plot and pacing.*Except Fantastic Mr Fox which is a whole different category.

This film is a joy to watch, so fresh, so tasty, bursting with fruity ideas and music that really make you smile to the world and make you think more about those you love and tell them so. Peace always to everyone, James you are incredible. Thank you, peach.Love Kiki xxxix

I first saw this soon after it first came out, when I was about 11 or 12. I was really disappointed in it then - I couldn't get over all the changes from the book.Fifteen or so years later, I've rewatched it, having become familiar with Henry Selick's other work. And this time I really enjoyed it.The animation is high quality, despite being less ambitious than Selick's two other major films (the animated parts of James and the Giant Peach make up a film only about half the length of Coraline, and there aren't any of the huge crowds of characters that filled The Nightmare Before Christmas).The songs, however, are nowhere near as good as those of The Nightmare Before Christmas. The less said about James' solo song at the start of the film the better. The only really good song in the movie also happens to be the only one that takes its lyrics from a rhyme in Dahl's book.Now that this film has surprised me by being better than I remembered, despite its big changes from the book, perhaps I should give Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory another chance to do the same...