Giant Film Reviews

Resident Giant expert Terry Gold takes us through some Giant related DVD's available to rent through your local video store or through the portals of the internet. First up, we have.

BIG

This is the kind of misleading title that gets my blood boiling. I was expecting a tale about a giant causing havoc in middle America. Cars being chucked around, power lines falling on railways, a comely lass in an evening dress hiding under a small bridge. Instead it’s about a boy who puts a penny in a magic slot machine and turns into an adult of decidedly average size played by actor Tom Hanks. There is absolutely nothing Big nor clever about this film. Thumbs down.

GULLIVERS TRAVELS

Having studied the DVD cover intently, I was struck by the image of an oversized man being tied up and terrorised by tiny people. This, I thought, would be a sensitive study into the challenges of being a giant adrift in a modern world that reacts with fear and violence instead of peace and tolerance towards our oversized bretheren. It wasn't that. What is was, was total rubbish.

TROLL HUNTER

Now we're talking. This was flipping brilliant! I'll admit I'm biased. I was an advisor on this film and, despite a few factual inaccuracies (the Troll Hunter failed to use cross ply tyres on the Land Rover for example - the kind of mistake that had us all laughing into our popcorn buckets), I’m pleased to report that the makers took on board many of my suggestions, which, in my humble opinion, resulted in a well researched and gripping tale. Trolls are much more stupid than Giants though - and I would only ever recommend shooting an angry one with a vapourising gun as a last resort. From my experience in the Fjords, a thermos flask of milky tea and a packet of bourbon biscuits placed in the path of a charging Troll usually keeps them occupied long enough for you to retreat to a safe distance without any unecessary carnage.