BOEMO SELLO

MATILDA is an old-time favourite that holds a special place in many people’s hearts. The special effects such as Matilda having fun using her power by sending cards and game chips flying or the principal swinging a little girl by her pig tales and throwing a boy out of a classroom window are amusing and wonderfully done.

Those who have read the novel will find a few changes. Some of the characters are portrayed differently, for example,

Mr Wormwood is short and fat, while Mrs Wormwood is skinny. Hortensia does not feature in the movie and I missed the trick Matilda plays using her friend’s parrot.

Other than that, the movie does absolute justice to the novel. The story takes place in the Crunchem Hall, a school run by Miss Trunchball, whose role is played by Pam Ferris. The main character, Matilda, is amazingly portrayed by Mara Wilson, considering how young she was at the time. Matilda is a charming, petite girl, born into a family of misfits.

I was shocked the first time I watched it because Matilda lives with a family who despises education and reading: they eat dinner in front of the television; her father teaches his children how to cheat and the school principal hates and abuses children. This goes against everything I have been taught.

I was shocked the first time I watched it because Matilda lives with a family who despises education and reading: they eat dinner in front of the television; her father teaches his children how to cheat and the school principal hates and abuses children. This goes against everything I have been taught.

Danny de Vito captured the essence of Matilda and although she is portrayed as the sweetest little girl ever, she is quite cunning. Embeth Dividtz, who plays the almost too perfect Ms Honey, brings across the character as quite believable.