Wednesday, January 5, 2000

Three Cheers for Pooh!

Nestled deep in the heart of every child is his own special land: a place of his own creation whose inhabitants are anything he wishes them to be. These worlds are private havens, often known only to the children who created them. But there is one boy whose make-believe land has captured the hearts of children and adults alike for nearly a hundred years...

"The New Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh" offers a fanciful glimpse into Christopher Robin Milne's Hundred Acre Wood, drawing on the tales chronicled by Christopher's father for inspiration. Although the Disney animation differs greatly from the original illustrations of E.H. Shepard, the heart of the characters remain. Winnie-the-Pooh is befuddled and lovable, Tigger is irrepressible and energetic, Piglet is timid and considerate, Kanga and Roo exemplify the ideal mother-son relationship, Rabbit is all business, Owl is sophomorically intellectual, and Eeyore is as gloomy as ever.

Gopher, though not in the original stories, fits in well with the ensemble. Christopher Robin reigns as a typical kid who, to his plush friends, is so much more. One might note his lack of a British accent, but it certainly doesn't detract from the show. Each of the stories is well-crafted with a terrific blend of warmth, humor and gorgeous scenery. It is truly an ideal wonderland for any child to retreat to once in a while, and it couldn't hurt an adult to take a step inside the magic and feel like a kid again!

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