Charlotte's Web
10 January 2007, 10:26 AM

I went to see the remake of Charlotte's Web yesterday evening.

Of course, I'd read the book about gazillion times when I was young. I cried at the end nearly every single time. I'd also seen the animated movie, made in 1973, a couple of times. That one was a really nice adaptation of the book, so I was concerned that the live action movie would not live up to the legacy.

To the contrary, it was very well done. Aside from the addition of a couple of slapstick crows and some fart jokes by the dairy cows, the movie stuck to the book very nicely and did it justice. Normally I'm highly annoyed by live action movies that give animals voices but this one worked well. Julia Roberts was the perfect voice for Charlotte, but I must admit that I missed Paul Lynde as Templeton. Steve Buscemi did a fine job, but Lynde's voice was so distinctive. This movie also avoided some of the cloying musical numbers of the animated movie.

And, of course, I cried. I thought I would be able to avoid that, since I know what's coming. After all, I've read the book a zillion times! I have that story practically memorized. Not to mention I'm 37 years old. I should be well jaded by now. But, try as I might otherwise, my chin trembled, my throat tightened and tears flowed down my cheeks. Ah well. That story gets me every time.