The Secret Garden

Rating:
Summary: A Wondeful Family Movie
Review: This was a very enjoyable movie that appeals to both adults and children. Now that my daughter is older I have had a hard time finding movies that appeal to me and my preteen. We are both tired of preteen movies that depict girls acting boy crazy or filled with off color jokes about bodily fluids and so on. We enjoy the classic Disney movies but the newer movies tend to have too much singing and/or too little plot. Lilo and Stitch comes to mind.

We both liked the way that Mary and Collin grew from sour self absorbed children into caring and giving individuals. Each child confronted their own demons in a honest and uplifting way. In addition, the visual aspects of the movie, especially the garden scenes were beautiful.

It is one of our favorite movies and will enjoy it for many years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Best film rendition of this story.
Review: I have seen all of the movies made of The Secret Garden, and I have been in a stage production as well. This one is the best of any film adaptations. All the players are so much more real and likable than in the others, so it's easy to enjoy this presentation when you can get emotionally involved with the people in it.

In the stage play, the chanting scene is full of music and mystery, and is an embodiment of Mary and Colin's wonderfully heartfelt wish to somehow magically call her uncle back home, so he can see how well Colin is doing and they can be a family, healing the years of anguish and loneliness that they all have suffered in different ways. This film is the only one that even came close to capturing the essence of that scene, which is meant to be whimsical, and to further establish the magical powers of the garden and of the lingering love Lily holds for them. It does so much for the story as a whole.

I am going to purchase this DVD for the director of our stage play, who also happens to be my brother, and who did a great job with our production. It's the only one that does justice to a story that has meant so much to the whole cast and will always carry a special place in our hearts.

Rating:
Summary: i like it enough to buy it
Review: Hi there. I have brought the vhs of this movie, and I like it enough to rebuy it and upgrade to dvd. I haven't read the book first, but I've heard it wasn't exactly true to the book, however the actors are fitting and I love maggie smith in any movie I've seen. The graphics and growing of the garden is fantastic. It's definately worth watching anyway though, and it makes me want to read the book of this. :-D [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Beautifuly done but "creative" with the plot
Review: This is a beautiful film, there is absolutely no denying that. It is also exceptionally well cast: Mary's transformation from sour little brat to glowing wee lass is completely believable, and the bratty, dour Colin makes a perfect "to the manor born" invalid. My only problem is the liberties taken with the plot.

Having the parents die in an earthquake while Mary is watching is a needless, though minor liberty (though it does mean that the touching line about "there's no one left to come" must be left out). But there was no need to change the plot to make the housekeeper (a wasted Maggie Smith) evil, and the chanting around the campfire is just weird.

The movie is worth watching for the scenery alone, but make sure that you read the book first. It is much better.