Matilda

Rating:
Summary: A Charming and Over-the-Top Movie
Review: This has always been one of my favorite films. This fanciful tale of a young girl who escapes into the world of literature from her abusive parents and principal is a must-see for all families. Some of the material is a little frantic for very young children. Your children must be mature enough to understand that their school principal will not throw them over a fence by their hair.

The film has wonderful actors in it. Pam Ferris, as the child-hating principal of Crunchem Hall, put on an enthusiastically over-the-top performance. Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman did a great job as the parents who can't understand their six-year-old daughter and her love of reading. Fresh out of "Schindler's List," came Embeth Davidtz playing the warm and loving teacher Miss Honey. And last, but not least, is Mara Wilson, who at a very young age put on a very convincing performance as a girl who loved to learn.

Even though the story has some absurdness, it has a wonderful lesson for children. They shouldn't spend all their time in front of the T.V. For the film buff's out there, the camera shots are very interesting for a family film. Composer David Newman ("Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," "The War of the Roses") wrote a wonderful music score for the film. It had humor and sentiment, and it is one of his personal favorites.

So if your looking for a good family movie that is average as a film, but above the standards of a family film, this movie is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Very good children's movie, and fun for adults too
Review: Matilda is worth watching, and I think worth owning too. However, let's get the reservations over before all the good stuff.

Miss Trunchbull, played by Pam Ferris, is a sadist. She is definitely mean. At two places in the movie she throws a child out a school window (she is really, really mean). Matilda's parents are self-absorbed and at best ignore Matilda, which occasionally borders on abuse. The images of Matilda's school can be disturbing, especially the "Chokie", a small cramped dark closet with spikes in the door. These images could be disturbing for younger children, particularly those under the age of 7 or 8. However, you have to judge the ability of your child to understand that these images are not real. These are the dark parts of the movie.

Matilda is clearly a genius, as evidenced by her actions from a very early age. Matilda overcomes her not very bright parents and learns how to fend for herself in the world. In fact, after a while she treats her parents as something to be concerned about, because they clearly do not know how to take care of themselves in the world.

Matilda is a positive role model throughout the movie. She learns to read on her own, and finds the value in the library and books. She learns that there are people who understand her (Miss Jennifer Honey, played by Embeth Davidtz) and love her for who she is. She also learns that people who seem scary to her (Miss Trunchbull) can be scary to others. Her desire to protect others and do what is right helps her overcome her fear of Miss Trunchbull and do what is right.

Mara Wilson plays Matilda very well. She has a lot of talent, and makes Matilda come alive. Danny De Vito plays Matilda's father and Rhea Perlman plays Matilda's mother, and every time I see them I cringe because these two are very unlikable characters, and I like Danny particularly. Danny also does a very good job narrating this movie, which somewhat ameliorates his turn as a semi-villain.

This movie celebrates, as it does in most Roald Dahl books, the triumph of right over wrong, and perhaps good over evil. The characters verge on being cartoonish, which is fitting for a children's movie. Having Matilda be telekinetic adds a wonderful element of fantasy with which children will identify. It is often a childhood fantasy to have powers or abilities to make things right, and Matilda obtains such a power and uses it for good.

This movie has a darker side, but the humorous moments and the Matilda's triumph over all the odds against her make this a fun movie. Worth watching again and again, I think this movie is well targeted to 8 to 12 year olds, but those of us adults that want to still believe that good will always triumph over bad and that good things eventually come to good people will find the message uplifting.

Rating:
Summary: quite good, but for younger kids
Review: I saw this movie for the first time when I was about twelve, and loved it. I read the book, and liked it as much, maybe even better. Recently, I rented the movie to see if I would still like it; I didn't. I'm now a lot older, and usually still enjoy the children's literature and films that I read on occation. Not this one. Yes, Mara Wilson is cute, and Danny DeVito does an excellent job, very humorous, too, and Pam Ferris is truly frightening as Miss Trunchbull. Miss Honey is lovable also; I simply didn't experience the sense of magic and wonderment that I'd had as a child. I'd give this film a try, but don't expect to feel as much triumph or hatred, or anything else, as you would if you were ten again.

Rating:
Summary: A great family movie...
Review: I watched Matilda on cable, and I found it very charming, funny, and enjoyed it alot. It's the story of a little girl, who was a "mistake" according to her self-involved mother, who is played quite brilliantly by Rhea Perlman. Matilda pretty much raises herself and teaches herself to read, by the age of 7, she is reading Moby Dick. Once enrolled in school, she goes through a barrage of adventures and not always such pleasant ones. It is a story that children can easily follow, and parents can rest easy. This is probably one of the best family/children's movies I have ever seen. I was very impressed by the performances of everyone in the cast. Mostly impressed by the woman who plays the principal of the school, she really turned in a very convincing portrayal. Matilda is definitely a great film for family viewing. There are a few frightening parts, but all in all, it is full of wholesome entertainment that we can all appreciate.

Rating:
Summary: Funny Family Movie, highly rated
Review: This is a great must see family comedy about an orphan who has magical powers and uses it for good stuff and at the same time brews up some slapstick comedy fun, a great cast including Danny Devito as actor and narrator for this great family movie and a tale of a smart and gifted young child you'll never forget, i'm sure you'll love it. 10/10.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: A fantastic movie based on the wonderful book by Roald Dahl.
Matilda (Mara Wilson) is a lovely and brilliant little girl, who is ill-treated and neglected by her disgusting parents (played by Danny De Vito and Rhea Perlman)

She go's to the library, to take books out, everyday, by four, and slowly discovers brainpower within herself (as the narrator reminds us, we only use less than a tenth of our brainpower-well not Matilda!).

Finally her father agrees to send her to school, a school which is run by the hideous and cruel psychopath Miss Trunchbull (Pam Ferris), who resembles something of Stalinist labour camp commissar.
Well, she certainly abuses the children, from swinging a tiny girl by her pigtails, to locking children up in a tiny dark chamber with spikes in the door.
By the way, this can all be very frightening to children of pre-school age.
But Matilda is shown love and care by her wonderful and sweet young teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz).
The most wonderful part of the film however is seeing Matilda see that the horrific Miss Trunchbull gets her comeuppance, and finding the happiness and love she deserves.

Rating:
Summary: A modern childrens' classic!
Review: Based on the book written by Roald Dahl (who brought "Willy Wonka" to life), this story revolves around the 6-year-old title character and her incredibly dysfunctional "Typical American" family. Daddy is a used car salesman, Mommy is a throwback to the worst stereotype of the 1960's housewife, and her brother is equally without redeeming qualities, but she loves them anyway and tries to save them from themselves -- most of the time.

Matilda escapes her life as an unpaid and unloved receiving clerk for her father's business (which is under surveillance by inept FBI agents) by devouring every book she can lay her hands on.

The next step in her liberation is toward Crunchem Hall, the neighborhood school run by -- well, I won't spoil the plot, just suffice it to say that "Matilda" is a Must Buy for any home with kids and a DVD player!

This film is as rich and delicious as "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," and is no more a "little girl movie" than "Wonka" was a "little boys' movie." For that matter, even adults will enjoy this one, especially when watching it with your (or anyone else's) kids. END

Rating:
Summary: How To Survive Private School
Review: Every now and then I see a movie intended for younger viewers that impresses me. Matilda, based on the book by Roald Dahl (Witches, James and The Giant Peach, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) is one such movie. This is the story of a young girl who is special. She is very intelligent, self-sufficient, and inquisitive.

When Matilda's parents (Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman) realize that she is old enough for school (sort of late) they send her to a private school run by a horribly mean woman who hates children. This environment, coupled with her life at home with a family that barely knows she is there, causes Matilda to discover and develop telekinetic powers. These she uses to help a friendly teacher and the rest of the students.

Once again a Roald Dahl book has been made into a very good movie. DeVito is excellent as a crooked used car salesman and Perlman is great as his wife. Matilda is played by the same actress who was in the remake of Miracle on 34th Street. The imagery and story are of the type that can only be found in stories for younger audiences. Although the movie does differ from the book this is a movie that I highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: MATILDA. 16th april 2004.
Review: Matilda [mara wilson], finds that she can have her own powers that come to her just like that. Her family never bother with her, and her teacher miss honey adopts her. EXCELLENT SCENERY, AND FUN FOR ANYONE.

Rating:
Summary: A must-watch!
Review: "Matilda" is a must-watch for anyone with a sweet-tooth for funny movies (like, for instance, myself). The adaptation, while perhaps not entirely faithful to Roald Dahl's book, works perfectly. The screenwriter(s?), whose name(s) I unfortunately cannot remember, did a superb job of turning Harry and Zinnia Wormwood from British idiots to American idiots.

The acting is great from all parties. Real-life couple Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman are the perfect Harry and Zinnia (which I mean as a compliment...). The title role is well portrayed by Mara Wilson, and by Sara Magdalin as the younger Matilda. Embeth Davidtz is the ideal Miss Honey, and Pam Ferris is unforgettable as The Trunchbull.

I've seen several film adaptations of Roald Dahl stories - "The Witches" and "The BFG" to name a couple - but this is by far the best one, and you will more than likely want to watch it lots of times.