Colin Farrell and Eva Green on Disney's live action 'Dumbo'
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Disney continue to give their classic animations live-action remakes, with loveable flying elephant Dumbo the latest to step into the 21st century. Our reporter Shola was excited to speak to actors Colin Farrell and Eva Green, who star in the new film, about what they got up to on set.
Dumbo(2019)
A baby elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus.
Age group7–14 years
Duration112 mins
Dumbo, in cinemas 29 March, sees struggling circus owner Max Medici enlisting a former star and his two children to care for Dumbo, a baby elephant born with oversized ears. When the family discovers that the animal can fly, it soon becomes the main attraction, bringing in huge audiences and revitalising the run-down circus. The elephant's magical ability also draws the attention of V. A. Vandevere, an entrepreneur who wants to showcase Dumbo in his latest, larger-than-life entertainment venture.
Watch the interview below to find out what Farrell and Green had to say about working with iconic director Tim Burton, overcoming their fears and performing some rather petrifying looking stunts.
Shola reviews Dumbo
I had the exciting chance to see Disney's reiteration of the 1941 classic Dumbo! Following in the not-so-shiny trail of live-action remakes being pumped out by the machine of a company, I was a little apprehensive about what this movie what turn out to be. Generally, I feel that the 'live-action new-generation' remake trend is being milked for the 'cash-cow', or in this case 'cash-elephant' it often is. Following the slightly disappointing reception of their remake of the beloved animated classic The Jungle Book, I was interested to see how audiences would take to Dumbo.
I was pleasantly surprised by the film's opening sequence - instantly I got a taste of the old Tim Burton magic, and was reminded of his prior success with Alice in Wonderland, a good example of a how a director can revamp a classic for a new generation of viewers. I was given the chance to fall in love with an eclectic group of characters, the talented outcasts who make up the Medici Brothers Circus, featuring two brilliant actors in Danny DeVito and Colin Farrell.
I was absolutely taken by baby Dumbo when he was introduced! It was refreshing to see a story focused on an animal that doesn't talk! To me, it means that the storyteller has to use more creative devices to convey all the feelings and thoughts that the character has which was essential for this story as Dumbo suffers so much.
After seeing it, I find it harder to call it a just a verbatim repeat, owing to all the new elements that's supplemented the already brilliant story. I feel that the addition of the Holt family really tied in with Dumbo's own feelings about family, and the love of a parent. All in all, I was happy with how the story was treated.
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