Watership Down

[Azerane]

Glad to hear you liked it Sharifu, it is a good movie. You're right that the animation could be better but it was an independant project so for what it is, the animation is quite good. Just a question, was there any particular character or scene you liked best?

Also I agree with you on the liking the dark aspect of the film, I really like that as well. If you like dark films and things I recommend the Plague Dogs, the movie kinda drags out at one part but it is really quite dark. The book also has a lot of depth in it.... but this isn't the topic for that so I'll stop there

[Sharifu]

Ah ok... I didn't know it was an independant project. That makes sense. I never even heard about this movie until say, a year or two ago. Kind of strange for a movie that's almost 30 years old.

I'm not sure what scene I liked the best, probably the part where the "Bright Eyes" song plays. And I thought the begining, was a good way of explaining how the rabbit got so many enemies.

But I'll need to see it again sometime.

[Azerane]

I wasn't sure where to post this, because it's obviously films and literature, but I'm also kinda (ok, I'll admit, mainly) advertising the forum I'm building

http://watership-down.proboards.com/index.cgi

It's a work in progress, and any feedback would be great. I've added a second theme which still has a colour kink or two, and have started adding smilies (though I need to dig out my dvd to finish those) and who knows if it will actually get off the ground. But just the past couple of days I've felt a renewed interest in the fandom and had a sudden desire to try my hand at forum building.

So there it is. Otherwise, feel free to simply discuss the book/movie/series here at your leisure

[s-tlk]

That's very funny, though that you came up with this now. xD
At the moment I'm in Abingdon on a business trip to RAL and on Thursday I'm leaving heading for Kingsclere, which is only a few clicks from Waterhsip Down away. I always wanted to visit it, but seeing it now came actually true is... somehow weird. The best thing is I even got at least the travel paid and I don't suppose I would go, when my job isn't taken me here in this region. Unfortunately the weather won't be so good on Thursday. :-(

So, in other words, yes I really like both books, the movie and series, but the last two not so much, although the first part of the series was really okay, when they at least tried to follow the storyline of the book. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to bring some new life in this quite dead community.

[Shadow]

hmm never read the books watched the movie real scary as a child, but now adult, its not that scary "but still gorey ofoucrse" but its just overall alot more....worse

so i gota read the books i guess!. dont think il join the forum though sorry got enough on my plate forumwise xP

[Sombolia]

I've read some of the book, but I didn't finish it because I got distracted from all sorts of other things... but I've seen the movie and it's very good. I personally prefer Plague Dogs, however (that one brought out the waterworks...).

[Wide Eyed Wanderer]

One of my earliest books...scary as hell.

[Azerane]

Mmm, i love Plague Dogs too, Richard Adams is amazing in that regard, so many good books. And yeah, Watership Down isn't really meant for very young kids, I know a few that it's scared Still, I love how much detail and culture is given to the rabbits in the book, it's very gripping. The movie also has its own charms, it's fun seeing the characters brought to life.

s-tlk, that's pretty exciting that you could go to the real place, I've heard of quite a few fans that have. You'll have to share some pics if you do

[Azerane]

Sorry for double-posting, but I'm wondering, did you get a chance to stop by the real place yet s-tlk? I'm waiting in anticipation

Also, Somby, you should try reading the book again I think one of the things I like most about the book is that it's not just a story of rabbits, they have their own beliefs so to speak and culture along with language which isn't explored in huge detail, but there is enough of it for it to be believable rather than just an odd word scattered throughout the book. The connections between different words make sense. Plus, there's just some really cool characters. I particularly love Bigwig, he's got some great lines. I think Richard Adams just wrote so convincingly in terms of the characters.

[s-tlk]

Yes, I was there and although the weather was really bad, I make some pictures. I went through rain and storm, master all kinds of natural and man-made obstacles, but finally, when I arrive at the downs, the sun came out...partially at least. But first it was one rain shower after another, so the overview from the downs was really cloudy. Now the top in more detail. On the top you might think you can see over the world: A view from the hill.What you see in the background is, btw New forest, the template of the forests in the Warriors series. ;-)
One nice thing about the clouds was, that you can observe nice light and shadow playings on the bottom, as well in this picture. What really astonished me. was the trees on top of the hill, exactly as described in the book, although there are more than one now, but I guess the other could have grown in 40 years. :-)
Some broken tree stump is there as place to sit. A really nice place to think and at the same time you have a wonderful view over the countryside: http://s-tlk.org/stuff/Pictures/Engl...1/WD/view2.png

Further I visit and made a picture of the Nuthanger farm, but it's private property, so I didn't enter it. Unfortunately one day wasn't nearly enough to visit all places from the book. I would gladly looked at Efrara, or at least where its suppose to be, the river Test and try finding the old Sandleford warren.

But after all, the trip was worth the travel and I think I will go there again and catch up the places I couldn't visit at that day.
Here are the rest of the pictures: http://s-tlk.org/stuff/Pictures/England-27.05.11/WD/

[Azerane]

Oh wow... That is absolutely amazing! It's so beautiful and so perfect. The scenery from the movie looks just like it, except your photos are so beautiful. I particularly love the 3rd image of the down from a distance.

I also love the views from the down of the patchwork of fields. It's absolutely stunning scenery. Thank you so much for sharing your images! It really helps bring the place to life. The layout of Nuthanger farm seems like it was well represented in the film too. Is that rise in the background of your first two images of cannon heath the down?

I can't get over how beautiful it is. I'm very jealous Looks like you got a fantastic break in the weather for your trip though with a bit of sun peeking through. It really is beautiful, a wonderful place and I can see why Adams set the main part of his story there. Thank you so much again for sharing. It would be amazing to see the other locations too, hopefully you get to make another trip there someday

[Sombolia]

Also, Somby, you should try reading the book again I think one of the things I like most about the book is that it's not just a story of rabbits, they have their own beliefs so to speak and culture along with language which isn't explored in huge detail, but there is enough of it for it to be believable rather than just an odd word scattered throughout the book. The connections between different words make sense. Plus, there's just some really cool characters. I particularly love Bigwig, he's got some great lines. I think Richard Adams just wrote so convincingly in terms of the characters.

I'm going to try to soon. I'll probably pack it in my carry on for the plane to Germany, it's a long trip with a long layover so I should be able to get some quality reading time in.


s-tlk, those pictures are completely gorgeous! Just how I pictured everything. Incredible.

[Lucy]

I remember reading the book as a kid, and I've seen the movie a bunch of times. I even own it still. The movie's probably the most violent family movie I've ever seen. They can't even really show blood on tv before a certain time (I'm looking at you, Doctor Who and Merlin, lol) yet this movie is rated Universal and it's so gory. I love it, but I was constantly upset by what happened to Hyzenthlay and Blackavar, and all the rabbits from Woundwort's warren in general. Also Bigwig for the win, he was always my favourite.

I even named my rabbit Hazel (even though she was a girl and kind of a demon. She ended up being the complete opposite of the Hazel in the books, lol).

[Aurelian]

I read and enjoyed both books, but I actually couldn't watch the film. The art style(very watercolory) bothered my eyes.

[Safila]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MODq81_cDKI Everyone's fav song

[Azerane]

I remember reading the book as a kid, and I've seen the movie a bunch of times. I even own it still. The movie's probably the most violent family movie I've ever seen. They can't even really show blood on tv before a certain time (I'm looking at you, Doctor Who and Merlin, lol) yet this movie is rated Universal and it's so gory. I love it, but I was constantly upset by what happened to Hyzenthlay and Blackavar, and all the rabbits from Woundwort's warren in general. Also Bigwig for the win, he was always my favourite.

I even named my rabbit Hazel (even though she was a girl and kind of a demon. She ended up being the complete opposite of the Hazel in the books, lol).

Yes, I would never call Watership Down a family movie. I know I watched it when I was very young, I think it was just after Simba's Pride came out, I wanted to borrow it from the video store, but dad told me not to because I'd already seen it so I picked up watership down instead, bunnies! It didn't scare me, but I remember it being very compelling, and perhaps I didn't completely understand it. But it's definitely too scary for for very young kids.

I called my rabbit Hazel-rah too, though to most people who asked I would just say Hazel (because they wouldn't get the 'rah' bit) and then they would always complain that Hazel was a girls' name but my rabbit was a boy...

I read and enjoyed both books, but I actually couldn't watch the film. The art style(very watercolory) bothered my eyes.

That's really strange... is it because the watercolour images are soft. Sometimes I find it harder to look at images that aren't crisp, because your eyes are straining to focus them more clearly? Glad you enjoyed the books though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MODq81_cDKI Everyone's fav song

Love that song, it's so beautiful and very moving. The only thing I don't like about the sequence in the film (which isn't what's shown on the video) is that when the stylised image of Hazel is spinning over and over, it morphs into a tree, but it always makes me think of those damn car airfresheners. If you go to 1:35 of this video, you'll see what I mean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkirtbpz5h4 Also, I started watching that video and I was tearing up, because of what blackberry says, and then how Fiver believes that he's not dead... man, I'm lame

[Lucy]

I called my rabbit Hazel-rah too, though to most people who asked I would just say Hazel (because they wouldn't get the 'rah' bit) and then they would always complain that Hazel was a girls' name but my rabbit was a boy...

I love that you called him Hazel-rah. It's awesome Sucks for them that they didn't understand the reference

I actually nearly didn't call my rabbit Hazel because she was female. Back then I thought it was a boy's name, because it was the only place I'd heard it, lol. But I went with Hazel anyway, because Hyzenthlay really would have confused everyone.

[Sombolia]

I've heard of a lot of people that have been fairly traumatized by seeing this movie at a young age I don't think it's too bad but it's definitely not a kids movie. I know in stores they often place it in the children's section just because it's animated... that happens with a lot of anime too, even the ones that would be rated PG-13 or R People need to do some research heh.

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you."
Ooh, that line always gives me chills.

[Azerane]

I love that you called him Hazel-rah. It's awesome Sucks for them that they didn't understand the reference

I actually nearly didn't call my rabbit Hazel because she was female. Back then I thought it was a boy's name, because it was the only place I'd heard it, lol. But I went with Hazel anyway, because Hyzenthlay really would have confused everyone.

I used to think it was a guys name too I was actually tossing up between Hazel-rah and Blackberry, and was leaning towards the latter (as he was white with black spots so it suited better) but my one friend was determined I should call him Hazel-rah. But then it just confused everybody and I had to keep explaining it. Haha, I can just imagine the looks you would get with Hyzenthlay though... @the vets office: So err... how do you spell that? XD

I've heard of a lot of people that have been fairly traumatized by seeing this movie at a young age I don't think it's too bad but it's definitely not a kids movie. I know in stores they often place it in the children's section just because it's animated... that happens with a lot of anime too, even the ones that would be rated PG-13 or R People need to do some research heh.

"All the world will be your enemy, Prince of a Thousand enemies. And when they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you."
Ooh, that line always gives me chills.

My friends' brother, who is 27-ish, refuses to watch the movie because he was so scared by it when he was younger. I just think he's a big chicken. It is creepy though, I think the part that is most so is when Captain Holly is describing what happened to the rabbits at the home Warren when the men came and gassed them. The purple rabbit heads with bright red eyes gasping for air is a little disturbing.

I love that line as well Both the book and the movie, the book has a more expanded version: "El-ahrairah, your people cannot rule the world, for I will not have it so. All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed."

[s-tlk]

From time to time I need to go to Oxford and London, which is of course close to Watership Down and this time I couldn't resists to also visit the other places, like the river Test or Efrafa (had a car this time ^^). But the most excited part is still Watership Down, not only because it's Watership Down, but also it is indeed a beautiful place for hiking and this time I managed to get a nice one from the foot of the hill:



The rest of the pictures are here: http://www.s-tlk.org/index.php?id=11...-down_may-2014
I'm working on a tour guide with different tracks and some good hotels around but this will need some time.