Absolutely loved the wide variety that Rabbit Ears Productions' "We All Have Tales" series had of stories and folk tales from all around the world, countries ranging from Russia and Africa, France and Japan and Germany and Ireland to name a few. All the adaptations are well worth watching and the best of them are musts and among the best Rabbit Ears Productions adaptations, my personal favourites of the series being 'Peachboy' and 'The Fool and the Flying Ship'.
1991's 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' is based upon a Scandinavian (well Norwegian) fairy-tale. A fairy-tale of sheer magic and beauty, one that deserves to be more famous around the world than it is. Rabbit Ears Productions' adapts it brilliantly and with all the magic and beauty of the original story, in a series with many winners 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' is one of the musts. It certainly doesn't hurt having the masterful Max Von Sydow as narrator.
Which plays a massive part in 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon's' appeal. Von Sydow's narration is incredibly haunting and touching, can just imagine him vividly while recording telling so much with his trademark subtly stoic use of eyes and expressions (which he was a master at and most evident in his eleven collaborations with Ingmar Bergman). His narration is especially telling in the prince's interaction with the Troll Queen and the voicing of the Troll Queen where he is quite frightening.
'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' also looks wonderful. Those backgrounds are truly stunning and made me want to book a trip to Scandinavia, very smooth and rich in detail with ethereal yet haunting use of colour. Another standout is the character design of the girl.
Lyle Mays' music score similarly enchants, one of my favourite scorings for any scene from any Rabbit Ears Productions adaptation is when the girl and the bear travel through the forest together. Truly powerful stuff even when simple in orchestration, with the most effective use of piano for anything heard in a long time. It also has a good deal of spirit.
Moreover, the writing is sincere and full of depeth yet doesn't try to do too much, Von Sydow's delivery really enhances it. The story is not hard to follow while keeping the emotion of the original story intact. The whole good love versus evil concept is a popular theme in fairy-tales but never gets old, it is very powerfully done, as is the suspenseful yet poignant climax. The North Wind and especially the Troll Queen are genuinely scary, even through young adult eyes, but not traumatising.
Overall, truly enchanting and one of the series' and company's musts. 10/10.
1991's 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' is based upon a Scandinavian (well Norwegian) fairy-tale. A fairy-tale of sheer magic and beauty, one that deserves to be more famous around the world than it is. Rabbit Ears Productions' adapts it brilliantly and with all the magic and beauty of the original story, in a series with many winners 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' is one of the musts. It certainly doesn't hurt having the masterful Max Von Sydow as narrator.
Which plays a massive part in 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon's' appeal. Von Sydow's narration is incredibly haunting and touching, can just imagine him vividly while recording telling so much with his trademark subtly stoic use of eyes and expressions (which he was a master at and most evident in his eleven collaborations with Ingmar Bergman). His narration is especially telling in the prince's interaction with the Troll Queen and the voicing of the Troll Queen where he is quite frightening.
'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' also looks wonderful. Those backgrounds are truly stunning and made me want to book a trip to Scandinavia, very smooth and rich in detail with ethereal yet haunting use of colour. Another standout is the character design of the girl.
Lyle Mays' music score similarly enchants, one of my favourite scorings for any scene from any Rabbit Ears Productions adaptation is when the girl and the bear travel through the forest together. Truly powerful stuff even when simple in orchestration, with the most effective use of piano for anything heard in a long time. It also has a good deal of spirit.
Moreover, the writing is sincere and full of depeth yet doesn't try to do too much, Von Sydow's delivery really enhances it. The story is not hard to follow while keeping the emotion of the original story intact. The whole good love versus evil concept is a popular theme in fairy-tales but never gets old, it is very powerfully done, as is the suspenseful yet poignant climax. The North Wind and especially the Troll Queen are genuinely scary, even through young adult eyes, but not traumatising.
Overall, truly enchanting and one of the series' and company's musts. 10/10.