Charlotte’s Web

Reviewed by Michael Nerbun

In the beginning of the movie it might seem that Charlotte’s Web is just a story about a cute pig and his barnyard friends. Wilbur is a lonely pig who’s afraid of dying and being made into bacon. He tries to make friends with different animals, but it is Charlotte, a big black spider, who becomes his best friend and saves his life. She teaches him some important things about life. Charlotte believes the "world is a wonderful place" and that everyone has "lots in common where it really counts." Charlotte said that how you look doesn’t really matter; it’s how you live that counts.

So, Charlotte’s Web is really about friendship and how it can bring out the best in each other. One of my favorite lines is from the theme song in the movie: "When we are together we are better than we used to be." All of the characters in the story had different good qualities of virtues. My mom and I each wrote down on a paper a list of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: "…love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22). Then as we watched the movie we wrote down the names of each character that had or developed one of these virtues. You could do this activity, too. It was very interesting.

A really neat part of the story is when Charlotte lays her 514 eggs in a sac and tells Wilbur it is her "magnus opus;" that is Latin for "great work." Charlotte gave life to her children, saved Wilbur’s life, and shared her joy and hope in life with all the barnyard animals. That is why I think she is so special!

This movie is a cartoon, has good music, is fun and has lots of good lines to think about.

For a real treat, read the book, too!

To Talk About

Before the movie:

Look up in the Bible the following citation and read it together: Galatians 5:22. Talk about what would happen in the world if everyone had just one of those virtues. Which one do you think you have?

After the movie:

After watching the movie discuss which virtues (good qualities and behaviors) fit each character.

Which virtue is the greatest of the virtues and, in your opinion, who practiced it best?

Which character do you think you are most like or would like to be like?