Rating: 
Summary: Excellent adaptation
Review: "The Indian In The Cupboard" is a delightful, moving adaptation of Lynne Reid Banks's 1980 award-winning novel. I won't reveal the plot, to avoid giving away the ending. All I can say about it is that it's moving without being too sentimental, funny without being satiric, and entertaining with losing any of its superb fun. Even though the book is based in England, the film never abandons the Lynne Reid Banks style by using American actors.Though some parts of the book were omitted from the script, it's still thoroughly entertaining without losing any of the characterizations delivered by Keith and Litefoot as Boone and Little Bear. It also delivers a strong moral message. Frank Oz deserves to direct gentle, moving fantasy movies like these, than just a wide-range of directing. What can I say? Perfect, in any way possible for child-oriented films. Rated PG for mild language and violence.
Rating:
Summary: Top flight entertainment for "tween" aged children
Review: "The Indian in the Cupboard" is an excellent movie for tween-aged children (i.e., children between their pre-school and teen years). In this movie a boy discovers that he can bring small action figures to life by using a small, old, wooden cupboard. The first figure he brings to life is a Native American. As the story progresses, the boy learns important lessons about life from his new friend, "Little Bear." The story is exciting without being frightening, educational without being stuffy, and fun without being extreme. "The Indian in the Cupboard" presents an excellent entertainment offering for pre-teens who often see too much programming centered on overstimulation of sight, sound, and action (e.g., Pokemon...). I also like the fact that the boy in the story doesn't look like he stepped right out of an advertising agency, or off of the cover of a magazine. He is a regular guy...his hair is a little messy, his teeth haven't gone through an orthodontic program, and he wears normal clothes. All in all, this is top-notch entertainment for the whole family. It's one of my children's favorites (girl, 10 yrs; boy 8 yrs; boy 6 yrs). A definite keeper for your family's collection! Happy viewing...and watch out for the rat! Alan Holyoak
Rating:
Summary: Excellent adaptation
Review: "The Indian In The Cupboard" is a delightful, moving adaptation of Lynne Reid Banks's 1980 award-winning novel. I won't reveal the plot, to avoid giving away the ending. All I can say about it is that it's moving without being too sentimental, funny without being satiric, and entertaining with losing any of its superb fun. Even though the book is based in England, the film never abandons the Lynne Reid Banks style by using American actors. Though some parts of the book were omitted from the script, it's still thoroughly entertaining without losing any of the characterizations delivered by Keith and Litefoot as Boone and Little Bear. It also delivers a strong moral message. Frank Oz deserves to direct gentle, moving fantasy movies like these, than just a wide-range of directing. What can I say? Perfect, in any way possible for child-oriented films. Rated PG for mild language and violence.
Rating:
Summary: Top flight entertainment for "tween" aged children
Review: "The Indian in the Cupboard" is an excellent movie for tween-aged children (i.e., children between their pre-school and teen years). In this movie a boy discovers that he can bring small action figures to life by using a small, old, wooden cupboard. The first figure he brings to life is a Native American. As the story progresses, the boy learns important lessons about life from his new friend, "Little Bear." The story is exciting without being frightening, educational without being stuffy, and fun without being extreme. "The Indian in the Cupboard" presents an excellent entertainment offering for pre-teens who often see too much programming centered on overstimulation of sight, sound, and action (e.g., Pokemon...). I also like the fact that the boy in the story doesn't look like he stepped right out of an advertising agency, or off of the cover of a magazine. He is a regular guy...his hair is a little messy, his teeth haven't gone through an orthodontic program, and he wears normal clothes. All in all, this is top-notch entertainment for the whole family. It's one of my children's favorites (girl, 10 yrs; boy 8 yrs; boy 6 yrs). A definite keeper for your family's collection! Happy viewing...and watch out for the rat! Alan Holyoak
Rating: 
Summary: Exactly like the book
Review: Although this movie version of Lynne Reid Banks' award-winning novel is not filmed in England, the plot makes up for it. Very well-made, and the actors shine beautifully in this movie. I rate it 9.5 on the scale to 10. Rated PG for mild language and violence.
Rating:
Summary: One little key
Review: Frank Oz is a man of amazing conquests, not only is he the voice and puppeteer for many of the most loved puppets of all time, for example Yoda and Miss Piggy, he is also a heck of a creative director. THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD is based on the popular series of the same name and is a beautiful movie. The script was adapted by Melissa Matheson, the former Mrs Harison Ford and writer of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. Her touch is seen in both films, and one of the elements that strengthened E.T., weakens this film with its absence. The young boy in ET befriends an alien that is stranded here on earth. There relationship is important because Elliot is from a broken home and almost a loner. Omri, our hero in THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD comes from a loving, normal family so his relationship with the Indian does not carry the same importance with the viewer. Still, Director Oz fills the film with subtle intelligence, a great musical score by Randy Edelman, and some wonderful special effects. His use of focus is brilliant, making you believe in the little Indian. Still, the film is harmless family entertainment, in fact, with its lack of offensive material and the subtle intelligence and morals presented, I'd almost push it up to a 5 star film... The Widescreen DVD is not the most beautiful transfer I have ever seen, there are some minor color distortions, especially around the effects shots...
Rating:
Summary: Litefoot does an exceptional job.
Review: I felt that the film while geared to children , had alot of grown up issues, and was presented to the children in a way they understood. I was appreciative of that but I must confess that my favotrite thing about he film was the ever gorgeous Litefoot, I personally am a big fan of his music and acting and am proud that he is a young Native Man doing something to make life better for himself and for his people. He's a man of many talents and this is one of the many examples.
Rating:
Summary: indian in the cupboard
Review: I liked this movie, but I really would like to say that I've been trying to find this movie mainly for my grandson who is only 4, but wants it very much . he really loves it.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry, mr Oz
Review: I Loved the idea of your story...but unfortunately not the film. To start with this review goes back sometime, when my friend did an oral report on the book, "The indian in the cupboard." But ofcourse, to make us read the story ourselves, he left out the ending for us to find out on our own. I did not get a chance to read the book, but I really got excited when the movie came out. I watched the movie...and still don't know the ending. Its a blank, hidden under a depressing veil, about death and disorder between the lives of perfectly human characters brought to life. I even did my "allow yourself to free your entire mind to this movie" routine. After all it is from the awesome Frank Oz. But, I am sorry, this falls short. It avoids a lot of facts that should have been stuck in there. The ending I got? The boy stands in his back yard with his mouth open, catching flies, with the sun reflecting off of his teeth. Didn't like it. 1 star for Frank Oz's pocket, bacause he is the only one deserving it.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful book, horrible movie
Review: I remember rushing out to watch this movie when it first appeared in theaters, since I was an enormous fan of the Lyn Reed Banks books. Alass, this movie took what could have been a wonderful adaptation, and turned it into a dumbed-down pile of insipid script and mostly forced acting. When I first saw it, I loved everything about it and immediately fell in love with the boy playing Omri, but now, I realize that his acting is horrible, but it's not his fault. The script is below mediocre; it's pitifully babyish. Lyn Reed Banks's stories had a charm of old-fashioned nostalgia to them, not so with this film. It has been completely modernized, including a few curse words, a relocation to the US, and a total emphasis on stereotyping the characters and making as many comical gags at their expense as possible. I will admit that there are several very touching moments, and even a little educational value to this, since Litefoot plays his character perfectly, and Frank Oz did feel inclined to at least include a song and a few sundry bits of the Iroquois language here. But overall, I would recommend the books over this.
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