THIS is the biggie that kids and probably a lot of grown-ups have been waiting for. It’s worth the wait.

I much regretted that my grandchildren were otherwise committed so unable to join me to watch Steven Spielberg’s film, the second based on Roald Dahl’s novel (the first was an animation in 1989). It will delight every age cohort.

The Big Friendly Giant finds Sophie still awake in the orphanage. For her safety, he collects her up and takes her to his quaint house in Giantland, where Fleshlumpeater, Bloodbottler, Maidmasher, Manhugger, Butcherboy, Bonecruncher and Childeater are really, really big child-eating giants whose name for the BFG is Runt. Gentle and kind, Runt collects, stores, catalogues and delivers pleasant dreams to children. And his reshaping of English vocabulary is a delight.

Dahl published “The BFG” in 1982. This is the last screenplay written by Melissa Mathison.

The Queen is a major character in it and Spielberg’s depiction of her is fun, especially a sequence in which her household drinks a brew provided by the BFG and in which the bubbles flow downward. It generates a powerful green fart from everybody who drinks it, including the corgis.

As Sophie, Ruby Barnhill, 12 this month, performs impeccably. Spielberg regular Mark Rylance makes the BFG a delight to watch and hear. Penelope Wilton plays Her Maj with agreeable firmness and compassion.

The estimated budget for “The BFG” was $US140 million. Good value, say I. It runs for 117 minutes, which might test the endurance of some young viewers.

At all cinemas