Watership Down: What the Must Watch reviewers think
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Must Watch reviewers Scott Bryan, TV Editor at Buzzfeed, and Hayley Campbell, journalist and critic, share their thoughts on Watership Down.
Watership Down is on BBC One on Saturday 22 December at 19:00 and Sunday 23 December at 19:20.
What do you think? Leave your comments below...
Scott says: "I don't know why this is on at Christmas. It doesn't feel Christmassy"
"It's based on Richard Adams' book. You think at first look it's about rabbits trying to escape from one area they believe is under threat, then try to set up a new life.
"But it becomes a whole thing about morality - is there any sense of religion, liberation? At first look you are going to be surprised by the level of depth that the book has. That's very apparent in the animation as well.
"Adults will have a very different perspective of it than children and will be surprised by its sophistication.
"It's got an amazing cast and I think its well paced and the plot is well executed
"The issue I had with this is the fact that the BBC has decided to change from four separate episodes to two feature-length episodes - it'll be one-and-half hours per episode.
"When I got the preview, I thought I'd watch it in one big go to see if I can get through it like a film. I was absolutely exhausted. I was drained.
"I don't know why this is on at Christmas. It doesn't feel Christmassy. Watership Down feels so far removed from Christmas entirely."
Watch the official trailer for Watership Down on BBC One
Hayley says: "I was having a hard time telling the rabbits apart"
"I was watching it in little pieces, and I was drained.
"I was having a hard time telling the rabbits apart.
"In the 1978 film, they're more 'cartoonish' - and the baddies are 'cartoonishly' bad. In this, they're more realistic as rabbits.
"When they speak you can tell them apart, because every voice is one you recognise - the cast is amazing.
"Even if you're not interested in the rest of it, tuning in to watch Peter Capaldi as an insane seagull is absolutely worth your time.
"It is so bleak. It is not Christmassy."
