To start, despite the rating I do have at least something positive to say of this film. The animation is astounding in much of this piece. It took a challenging and beautiful artistic effect to give the film a feel of an oil painting come to life. There is a clear intention behind the designs, movement, and all of it comes together to draw you into a world that is a delight to view. The art team behind this film clearly had a vision in mind and that passion to make it happen. Taken away from the plot and only viewing the animation is like experiencing a masterwork come alive right off the canvas.
However it is unforgivable that this is bares the name White Fang, claiming to be based on the classic Jack London's book, to a point that the artistry behind this film is besmirched. Characters are only loosely based on the story and most in appearance alone. Motivations and personalities are monumentally changed and much of the plot goes in drastically different directions from the original work. From beginning to end very little of the plot has any bases in the book beyond a very basic understanding of the original work, changing everything from the personalities of some major characters to even the full backstory of the main character.
It is honestly to be expected that an adaptation might loose something or be changed when shifting from one media to the other, but this goes well beyond needed changes. This "adaptation" changes so much from the original source that it looses the key elements from the original story, including much of the story's moral and intentions. It can't be excused that the story was changed to make it more kid friendly either as this movie does not shy away from violent aspects of the plot, one of the only minor details from the book that this movie kept.
Truly the art is amazing in this film and I want to say its a good film, but it goes so out of the way to differentiate itself from it's source material that it becomes more of an insult to the classic then paying homage. Had this film not claimed the name White Fang and had tried instead to be something it's own, a motive the writers clearly were trying to do, then there might be more to say about the end result. There was clearly a passion behind the animation of this film, but the direction and writing were so poorly misguided that it simply can't be overlooked. Had the animation been focused into an original work or behind direction that intended to make a true adaptation, then this would have been a film for the ages. As it stands now, this is a carefully polished ball of dung.
However it is unforgivable that this is bares the name White Fang, claiming to be based on the classic Jack London's book, to a point that the artistry behind this film is besmirched. Characters are only loosely based on the story and most in appearance alone. Motivations and personalities are monumentally changed and much of the plot goes in drastically different directions from the original work. From beginning to end very little of the plot has any bases in the book beyond a very basic understanding of the original work, changing everything from the personalities of some major characters to even the full backstory of the main character.
It is honestly to be expected that an adaptation might loose something or be changed when shifting from one media to the other, but this goes well beyond needed changes. This "adaptation" changes so much from the original source that it looses the key elements from the original story, including much of the story's moral and intentions. It can't be excused that the story was changed to make it more kid friendly either as this movie does not shy away from violent aspects of the plot, one of the only minor details from the book that this movie kept.
Truly the art is amazing in this film and I want to say its a good film, but it goes so out of the way to differentiate itself from it's source material that it becomes more of an insult to the classic then paying homage. Had this film not claimed the name White Fang and had tried instead to be something it's own, a motive the writers clearly were trying to do, then there might be more to say about the end result. There was clearly a passion behind the animation of this film, but the direction and writing were so poorly misguided that it simply can't be overlooked. Had the animation been focused into an original work or behind direction that intended to make a true adaptation, then this would have been a film for the ages. As it stands now, this is a carefully polished ball of dung.