Amazing Maurice, The [DVD]

Great film for kids a pratchett fans

The Amazing Maurice is an animated adaptation Terry Pratchett's Carnegie Medal winning children's novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. It is such a good adaptation. It’s beautifully animated and has a top drawer voice cast. However, it is not the book and the film story differs quite a lot from the novel. What works in books – particularly with Terry who was so fond of word play – doesn’t always translate to the movie screen. So this movie is not the book; but it captures the spirit of the book. It has the book's humor and it's heart.The extras include a comprehensive and entertaining 'Making of" documentary and Rob Wilkins (Terry's one-time PA, who now run's Terry's estate) reading Mr Bunnsy Has An Adventure (the in-world children’s book that is an important plot point in the story) which was delightful.

Excellent for Terry Pratchett fans, well done

An animated movie. Animated in the computer graphics rather than old fashioned two dimensional animation. It's an adaptation of the novel 'The Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents.' By Discworld creator Terry Pratchett.For those who haven't read the book: it's the story of Maurice. A cat who can think and talk. And a group of rats who can also do the same. They plus somewhat hapless young man Keith making a living scamming small villages into a Pied Piper like situation. They meet their match though at one particular place, when a young lady called Malicia cottons onto things. But there's a much bigger danger lurking...For those who have read the book. This works as an adaptation perfectly. Because it's proper Pratchett. The characters. The humour. The narrative style. The narration. The plot. The themes. They all feel just so like what he did with his writing, that it really is an experience to watch, because you are watching one of his stories on screen. It is a successful adaptation because it does what the book did. Albeit in visual form.If you've not read the book, then you'll find it takes old story telling styles and makes it own unique version of such.It's a pg certificate movie. Which is to say it is generally suitable for all ages, but there are moments involving the great threat of the story that are mildly scary. But stories of old would do that with their villains, and kids in those days could handle it fine. So give yours a chance and they should be able to do the same.The voice cast are excellent. Hugh Laurie as Maurice could be a bit over familiar in his performance, but it fits the character. Life lessons the characters learn along the way happen naturally and as part of the narrative, so it never lectures you. Which is also something stories used to do. So that's nice.The animation is very good indeed. It works. It creates a style of it's own, and one that suits the story it is telling.Why not quite five stars? Malicia, the young lady character I mentioned, is downright annoying! Condescending, supercilious, and the biggest problem is that she just doesn't stop talking. It gets irritating. She is good in a couple of quieter moments, but other times she just got on my nerves. The voice performance by Emilia Clarke is fine, it's just that people who talk a lot are a personal bugbear. But there we go.This is otherwise a really good little movie, and a proper bit of Pratchett at that. So it's very nice to see. And watch.The dvd has the following language and subtitle options:Languages: English.Subtitles: English.Extras:Making of: Remember when Dvd's had proper feature length making of documentaries? Ones that went into detail and weren't just quick publicity pieces? This is one of those! It's thirty five mins long. It covers the production and all that was done to bring it to life in amazingly good detail. It's a great and interesting watch. They don't make them like this anymore.Malicia smells a rat. In nine languages. A one min long scene from the film. With the bulk of it using various foreign language dubs for the scene. It's...mildly interesting.Mr. Bunnsy has an adventure. Twelve mins long, it brings a little story from the film to life on it's own. A Beatrix Potter style piece of work. Written slightly animated and narrated. It's a bit slight. But has charm.The Amazing Maurice X Murwalls. One min long. Watch a mural of Maurice being created. The end result is totally worth seeing.

It’s pratchett enough said!

Brilliant DVD that my grandchildren love.

Its OK. Passes the time.

This animated film is a faithful adaptation of Terry Pratchett's book "The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents". A group of rodents become sapient by consuming magical waste discarded by the wizards at Unseen University, and these now intelligent rats seek a place in the world where they can peacefully live. Maurice the cat just wants to live comfortably; hijinks ensue.

Great voice cast, wondeful rendering of Bad Blintz, good adaptation of Terry Pratchett's story. Why only 4 stars? It's Maurice. Cats are sleek, fascinating creatures: the main character has been rendered as as furry blob on four legs (IMHO)