Guest Blogger: Amy C2

Roald Dahl is the mastermind behind many adventurous and outstanding stories about young heroes and heroines. Composing classics stories such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, Dahl’s work immerses the reader into a tantalizing world booming with wonder. However Dahl’s astounding world is not just limited to books. Through his film adaption of Dahl’s book Matilda, noted director Danny DeVito brings Dahl’s outrageous world to life in the movie Matilda. Produced in 1996, Matilda is a film adaption recreated by Danny DeVito and cinematographer Stefen Czapsky. The movie revolves around Matilda Wormwood (played by Mara Wilson), an extremely brilliant and precocious elementary schooler. While Matilda is a natural genius, she is, unfortunately, surrounded by a scummy family as well as a horrible educational system. Her father, played by director Danny DeVito himself, is a burly car salesman who bitterly despises education as well as spending meaningful quality time with his family. Contributing to the dysfunctional Wormwood family, Matilda’s mother (played by Rhea Pearlman), is absorbed in her own world of gossip and mindless chatter. Though school is the only place where she can satisfy her natural desire to learn, Matilda is further plagued by misfortune due to a strict superintendent named Miss Trunchbull (played by Pam Ferris), who actively seeks to destroy any type of fun in school. However Matilda is not alone when facing these terrible circumstances. With the help of the delightful Miss Honey (played by Embeth Davidtz), Matilda courageously overcomes her treacherous adversities. Matilda, a young, intelligent and daring elementary student, is portrayed through Mara Wilson. Though Mara Wilson was still a young actor during the production of the film, her professionalism was obviously apparent in Matilda. Wilson actively consumed the role of an ambitious and dedicated student by exhibiting heartbreaking emotions. By doing so, Wilson convinces the audience of Matilda’s precocious character. Contrasting Wilson’s adorable role as Matilda, Pam Ferris assumes the role of a nasty heartless superintendent named Miss Trunchbull. Pam Ferris’s character is disgustingly horrid, as she openly reveals her putrid attitude toward children by initiating acts such as tossing them out of windows and forcing them to devour cake in front of the whole class. Pam Ferris’s character is an extremely important character in regards to the theme of Matilda. The vicious opposition between Matilda and Miss Trunchbull reveals the movie’s theme that despite the negative opinions and actions of others, one should always strive to embrace his/her unique capabilities. Matilda, by Roald Dahl, was adapted into a film by director Danny DeVito. Though it was produced in 1996, Matilda remains a favorite among many critics as well as myself. While it may seem like a sad and cruel story, Matilda is a charmingly sweet story about a brave young girl. I would highly recommend this movie not only because of its remarkable storyline, but also because of the innocent atmosphere induced by the movie. Overall, Matilda is astonishing, cute and, of course, “much too good for children!”