Everybody's a critic: 'Charlotte's Web'

Three and a half stars (out of four)

How could you not love this classic? I feel a bit guilty about it, but I have to say watching this story that dear old mom put me to sleep with as a child rekindled my Christmas spirit. This is a timeless story that exemplifies love, brotherhood and self-sacrifice.

Wilbur the pig is soon to become bacon, when a wise spider befriends him and takes an interest in his plight. By fooling the hungry farmer with some creative "webmail" Charlotte manages to save her friend.

The new version is much better than the 1973 Warner Brothers production. I normally scoff at CGI tricks, but in this production they actually add something to the picture. Wilbur reminded me of the pig in the movie "Babe," and in fact, the entire picture possesses a certain similarity to the adaptation of Orwell's classic "Animal Farm."

I was still impressed, however, and recommend the film to all.

~-- Pat Pratt

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Two stars (out of four)

Director Gary Winick provides movie goers with a live-action version of the animated 1973 classic. Based on the 1952 novel by E.B. White, "Charlotte's Web" begins as Fern Arable (Dakota Fanning) stops her father from slaughtering the runt piglet in a litter of 11. As Fern's pig "Wilbur" (voiced by Dominic Scott Kay) begins to grow, Fern is convinced by her mother to sell Wilbur to her uncle.

After moving to the Zuckerman barn, a lonely Wilbur befriends a spider by the name of Charlotte A. Cavatica (voiced by Julia Roberts). Later Wilbur meets Templeton "The Rat" (voice of Steve Buscemi), who informs the spring pig that his winter fate lays inside the smokehouse.

Charlotte promises to devise a plan that will convince Zuckerman that Wilbur is no ordinary pig. While I was somewhat disappointed by Julia Robert's monotone verbal performance, the story line remained intact to deliver the tear-jerking ending. A good family film.

~-- Jerry Swan