Dir: Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry | With the voices of Cillian Murphy, Raffy Kassidy, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe | Anime 85’
Adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s classic book Kensuke’s Kingdom suggests a Japanese manga but the young hero is plainly European, the title referring to an old Japanese hermit (who we learn in a flashback was a former sailor shipwrecked soon after Nagasaki) who takes Michael under his wing after he learns the hard way the danger of disobedience when he gets shipwrecked.
The island is no tropical paradise since we see a Komodo Dragon gobble up a mud hopper in one gulp, while Michael gets bitten by ants and stung by enormous jelly fish.
Michael soon bonds with the local Orang Utangs, an idyll cut short by dive bombing sea gulls (in keeping with their current bad press) and three hunters in big boots, carrying guns and a big cage. Tougher kids will love this. @RichardChatten
KENSUKE’S KINGDOM | IN UK AND IRISH CINEMAS FROM 2 AUGUST 2024