Rating: 
Summary: great version
Review: I have been a fan of the book _The Secret Garden_ since the first time I read it in grade school. I read the book a minimum of once a year - probably for 12 years. I was really disappointed in several versions of the movie I have seen. They either added weird scenes that were not true to the book or left out too many details for my liking. I know that I can't expect movies to stay entirely true to books - particularly when modern Hollywood makes a movie out of a children's literature classic... but this is absolutely the best version of the story I have ever seen as a movie.I only gave it 4 out of 5 stars because they made a strange frame around the story - with Mary coming back to the Manor after the war and flashing back to the whole story. That in itself is fine -- but for some reason at the beginning a cat jumps out at her (and then instantly the flashback begins), why??? And at the end Colin comes and meets her in her garden and proposes... aren't they COUSINS?
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best stories I ever read
Review: Mary, Mary Quite Contrary. That's what the children on the boat from India called poor, plain, orphaned Mary Lenox. Sent to live at Misslethwaite Manor with her mysterious uncle, Mary has a lot to adjust to in her new life. What she didn't expect was the strange sound echoing through Misslethwaite's halls at night, or the wild beauty of a secret garden locked and hidden for many years.
Although this is a children's classic, kids of all ages will love this story, full of rich characters and just the right touch of suspense. Francis Ford Copella directed a lovely movie version a few years ago which is very true to the story. Read the book, then enjoy the film!
Rating:
Summary: A magnificent array of hope!
Review: An excellent story made especially for those of you who dream. This version may differ a bit from the book, but it is still a must see. You will not be dissapointed!
Rating:
Summary: A timeless classic
Review: I have to say that besides the acting on the kids part in this version of the secret garden, everything was great. The children could've done better in expression, but they were still good. The scenes were beautiful, and vibrant, just as they should have been. The music, Nocturne by Chopin, was beautiful, just wonderful for the movie. It gave it that dramatic feeling. Mary Lennox,(Gennie James) is a spoiled brat, who lives in India with her neglectful parents. When they die in a sudden plague, Mary is sent to live with a distant family friend by the name of Mr. Archibald Craven (Derek Jacobi) in a castle he owns called Misselthwait Manor. It's mysterious enough place, considering that there's a garden that's been locked up ever since Mr. Cravens wife died, but Mary keeps hearing someone crying at all hours at night in despair. Mary, soon after coming to the Manor, finds the key to the garden, and see's that it is in need of desperate help of coming back to life. It also turns out the voice in peril is Colin (Jadrien Steele), the bedridden son of Mr. Craven. With a little help from Mary, and a magical boy named Dickon (Barret Oliver), they can bring the life back to the garden, and the spirit within Colin all by themselves. The acting on the adults part was excellent. Especially Mrs. Medlock, who was played by Billie Whitelaw. In most other versions, they overdo Mrs. Medlocks mean side, but in this version, it shows she has a good side too. Dickon wasn't nearly as good a character in this version as he should've been. They turned him into a wise old man instead of a likeable animal charmer, not even following the book. Hey, no ones perfect. Be that as it may, this movie is still probably the most acurate one following the book and my favorite version. I have to say it is probably the most dramatic out of all of the versions. Hallmark really did a good job on this one. I warn, it is not for small children. They will be easily bored. For small children, try the 1993 version with Kate Maberly. Both are extremely good though. Don't think twice about buying it though, it's a great addition to your video library.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Childhood Memory
Review: This movie (granted, not on dvd) was not only the first Secret Garden movie I ever saw, but my first exposure to The Secret Garden, period. It wasn't until later that I read the book. I don't know how fairly I can review this, because just thinking about I find myself thinking about a million other parts of my childhood. This movie was so important to me that it means childhood, and it takes a good movie to do that. I love the cast. The actress who plays Mary is a bit stiff, but it fits well with her character. Derek Jacobi is wonderful, tragic, and when necessary, frightening as Archibald. The soundtrack is haunting, and I occasionally find myself humming it, even though I haven't seen the movie in at least a year and a half. The movie follows the tone of the book, even with the occasional added scene. I don't know what devotees of the book would think of the frame with Mary as an adult, but since I knew the movie long before I ever read the book I love it. It doesn't take away from what the book has, and I think it contributes something to it. Plus it has Colin Firth in it, and who can argue with that?
Rating:
Summary: The best version-keeps in character with the book
Review: I have now seen two other versions of The Secret Garden, and this one (the first I ever saw) Remains my favorite. The reason is I have a couple problems with the other versions
In the old 1949 Edition, Mary wasn't portrayed correctly. She's supposed to be (at the beginning) a girl with an attitude (for lack of a better way to put it.) She's supposed to be completely emotionally unnafected by her parent's death (according to the book)as they had never attempted to spend time with her. In the old 1949 version, Mary has an emotional outburst upon learning of her parent's death. That is out of charachter. In this version, she's more concerned about the doll she dropped when she was told. Her attitude in this 1987 version seems more in charachter.
In the 1993 version I do not like the way they took the concept of "magic" and twisted it into a seance in the garden. That is extremely out of charachter with the book. When the book speaks of "Magic" it almost hints at miricles/the hand of God. This 1987 movie kept in charachter with that.
Basically, I think this version is truer to the mysterious (in a good way) tone of the book. the manor is beautiful! and the whole scenery is in charachter with the book. The only thing they contradicted the book in was having Mary and Colin not related. In the book they're cousins. But in this version they're unrelated, which is obviously because they have Mary and Colin getting married. The only thing I would change is the actors that played the two boys, Colin and Dicken. They were pretty good actors, but both were too old. Dickon should have been someone more Mary's age, and the actor that played Colin (although he has a sufficient baby face) reveals his real age at the end when he can stand up and walk. Way too tall. Look at the scene with him and his father walking together in the garden. Colin's way to tall to be 10 (his supposed age). Other than that, this is a superb version of the movie, which any Secret Garden fan should own. Hallmark has quality! (insert gold crown here)
Rating:
Summary: LOVE IT!!!
Review: This is my favorite movie version of the book. In my eyes there is no other that can even begin to compare! I have loved the book and this movie as long as I can remember. The only thing I didnt get as that she gets together with her cousin in the end.
Rating:
Summary: love it. Love It. LOVE IT!!
Review: i've seen this movie at least 200 times since i was seven years old, and though i've had to purchase it more than once... i still love it! the beautifully romantic soundtrack gives you a soulful account of what's happening in the story, and the very talented director found some of the most talented actors that played their parts beautifully. it's a staple of my own film collection, and i hope everyone sees it at least once!
Rating: 
Summary: Horror Garden
Review: This film was creepy and unnecessarily dramatic. It does not follow the novel accurately, and the "artistic liberty" taken by the director ruins the beauty and joy of the original story. The background music is dramatic to the point of being ridiculous, much of the lighting is dark, and the overall feeling is that of a horror movie. My eight-year-old, fairly tolerant of spooky stories and movies, did not like it and we did not finish watching it. My husband and I just thought it was stupid. If you've read the book recently, you'll find this film version disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkable
Review: I have loved The Secret Garden movie since I was ten.Buying the DVD completed my collection of classical movies. I have seen other versions, but none have compared to the 1987 version. I think is a excellent movie to show young children. My mom showed me when I was ten years old and i absolutely loved it.
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