Amazon.com

Sweetness that doesn't turn saccharine is hard to find these days; Finding Neverland hits the mark. Much credit is due to the actors: Johnny Depp applies his genius for sly whimsy in his portrayal of playwright J. M. Barrie, who finds inspiration for his greatest creation from four lively boys, the sons of widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet, who miraculously fuses romantic yearning with common sense). Though the friendship threatens his already dwindling marriage, Barrie spends endless hours with the boys, pretending to be pirates or Indians--and gradually the elements of Peter Pan take shape in his mind. The relationship between Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family sparks both an imagined world and a quiet rebellion against the stuffy forces of respectability, given physical form by Barrie's resentful wife (Radha Mitchell, High Art) and Sylvia's mother (Julie Christie, McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This gentle silliness could have turned to treacle, but Depp and Winslet--along with newcomer Freddie Highmore as one of the boys--keep their feet on the earth while their eyes gaze into their dreams. Also featuring a comically crusty turn from Dustin Hoffman (who appeared in another Peter Pan-themed movie, Hook) as a long-suffering theater producer. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (245)

A very beautiful movie.
I agree with T burger.I did do some research after watching this & the main point of the movie is the same.He created this world after meeting & falling in love with those boys.If they made every movie that's based on fact word for word they would probably be boring.They're usually loosely based & meant more to entertain than to inform.I loved it.Story, great, sets, great.Johnny Depp Double great.

wow...
This movie is truly captivating. I am a sucker for fantasy-sort and movies packed with lots of imaginiation. I guess its the kid coming out of me. (which doesn't often go away)
This movie really does make you go back and remember all your dreams as a little child. Wishing you could fly, dreaming of far off places, magic, fantasy lands, and so on.
The reason for this movie is to take a look at how Peter Pan related to its author and his life. It is really interesting to see the parallels between the movie and the events and people he had in his life. I highly recommend it. Its touching and captivating.

Handsome-looking, sentimental tripe
Marc Forster's FINDING NEVERLAND isn't a bad movie, I suppose. In its depiction of playwright J.M. Barrie's creation of the classic PETER PAN, it has its occasional moments of real wide-eyed wonder (mostly during re-enactments of moments in the actual play), and it has generally fine performances from its cast---not even the prestige-pic atmosphere of this movie can keep the wide-ranging actor Johnny Depp down. And, of course, the movie looks sumptuous and handsome (which counts for something in my book).

But FINDING NEVERLAND is yet another example of the kind of sentimental, non-threatening tripe that Hollywood has a tendency to produce and foist upon the masses during Oscar season. This particular Oscar-bait picture has as its mantra "Just believe," but the movie rarely ever elicits the same sense of innocent wonder that this film's Barrie clearly believes in. (Its brief "fantasy" sequences---which includes Barrie dancing with a dog, or Barrie playing a pirate with a widower's kids---are too cheesily done to make us believe in anything.) Nor does it have much of a sharp edge to its potentially disturbing depiction of a writer's sudden fixation on the widower's kids; his attraction to the innocence of these kids---at least, in most of the kids; one of them, played by Freddie Highmore, still carries the pain and anger of loss with him---is depicted (and romanticized) by Forster and screenwriter David Magee as mostly pure and rather beautiful. (Yea right; so is Michael Jackson's, too?) By smoothing away almost all of the rough edges, by manipulating events to fit its banal message, by toning down Johnny Depp's usual actorly exuberance, Marc Forster comes up with a film that, for all its impressive production values, is never very intellectually stimulating. It's insufferably pleasant rather than challenging. Is it deeply moving? For me, not really; when Forster finally unveils his visual depiction of Neverland towards the end, it is mawkish rather than transporting; so is its final scene, in which Barrie tells disillusioned young Peter Davies to "just believe" that his relatives still live on.

Look, it's a nice idea, to be able to hold on to your child-like innocence and all that. But, just because you become an adult, that doesn't mean you have to lose your imagination or sense of child-like wonder. (That's one of the things movies can do best---but not this movie.) But it's hardly a good idea either to be as child-like as this film's Barrie is; in this difficult world, you'd never survive if your only purpose in life was to remain an innocent child throughout, the way Barrie tries to be. Growing up is something everybody has to do; it's something FINDING NEVERLAND apparently doesn't believe in. It's better to remain a naive kid rather than live in the real world. And of course this potentially dangerous philosophy gets applause from gullible viewers who find the movie "enchanting": it's a fantasy that appeals to them, which is precisely why I think the film is intellectually empty. Sorry if that sounds terribly cynical, but that personal reaction to the film's message is the only way I can explain why there was only one scene in the movie that genuinely moved me: a scene in which an angry Peter Davies shouts out to Barrie, "I will not be lied to." It's the only scene with any real dramatic weight to it, because it is the closest the movie comes to challenging its own sentimental, simple-minded "just believe" philosophy. Peter has glimpsed the cold, hard reality of death, and is trying to deal with it in his own way; this film's Barrie, instead, would probably try to tell himself that no one ever really dies, as long as his/her memory is kept alive. Again, a comforting notion; but it can be plain delusional to deny the harsh reality of death.

FINDING NEVERLAND is well-made enough that it's worth the 3 stars I'm granting it here. The movie probably makes worthy family entertainment; there's nothing all that offensive for parents to get too worried about. But if you're expecting something truly insightful or deeply moving from this trite Hollywood prestige pic, you might be disappointed. For all of its adult pretensions, FINDING NEVERLAND is, at heart, as childish as its real-life hero.

Neverland not the place to be
Johnny Depp put in a good performance in this movie. And that's the problem. I expect an actor of his caliber to show me something on the screen that will blow me away every single time. (Sorry about that,but Johnny has spoiled me). Instead what I saw was an actor reigned in. Did the money-mafia intercede somewhere along the line and say "no funny stuff..we're going for main stream here. Think Oscar."Kate Winslet just was not credible in the role of a woman dying of a progressive, wasting disease.Really?!When Barrie finally reveals Neverland to her, supposedly on the eve of her death, she looks like nothing but the beautiful English girl that she is. As fresh and as robust as the proverbial milkmaid. As for Julie Christie and Dustin Hoffman...what about them? Their parts could of been played by actors of lesser talent and the final product would not have suffered for it . This is not the worst movie ever made but it's got to be the worst misuse of acting talent in recent history. Finding Neverland is a medicore commercial product. The invitation implied gourmet but on arrival I got fast food. And I really, reallywanted to LIKE this movie.

An amazing movie, never mind the background...
Although I understand that J. M. Barrie was not perfect, there is no reason to relate him to the "Michael Jackson" scandal. It might be true that he *was* a pedophile, but in this movie, nothing of the sort was shown. The movie is *based* upon events that happened in the past, but is not a documentary of any sort or kind, and therefore cannot be deemed untruthful. Since the movie is not a historical film, nor does it portray any sort of pedophilia, it is unjust to give this movie a bad review for the past events.

Depp came across as a truly kind being who became very close with a family, and especially with that family's kids. He enjoyed being around them because maybe he felt that they needed a father figure, or maybe that he saw himself in the children and just wanted to have fun with them because he had no children of his own. Depp played Barrie in a manner which might have not been accurate, but his performance was amazing.

Winslet, who as well gives a rather good performance, fits with Depp like pieces of a puzzle, and the dynamics between Depp and the boys are amazing in all scenarios.

Overall, this was a stunning movie, and never you mind the reviews that say that this film was boring or stupid. This brings out emotion in almost everyone, from kids to seniors, and the only people who don't find it interesting are those who dislike a movie that actually has a good plot/doesn't have "action"/actually has in-depth characters.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECCOMEND THAT YOU PUT THIS ON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST TO RENT OR BUY. I GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU WATCH IT ONCE, JUST ONCE, YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH IT IMMEDIATELY. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sweetness that doesn't turn saccharine is hard to find these days; Finding Neverland hits the mark. Much credit is due to the actors: Johnny Depp applies his genius for sly whimsy in his portrayal of playwright J. M. Barrie, who finds inspiration for his greatest creation from four lively boys, the sons of widow Sylvia Llewelyn Davies (Kate Winslet, who miraculously fuses romantic yearning with common sense). Though the friendship threatens his already dwindling marriage, Barrie spends endless hours with the boys, pretending to be pirates or Indians--and gradually the elements of Peter Pan take shape in his mind. The relationship between Barrie and the Llewelyn Davies family sparks both an imagined world and a quiet rebellion against the stuffy forces of respectability, given physical form by Barrie's resentful wife (Radha Mitchell, High Art) and Sylvia's mother (Julie Christie, McCabe and Mrs. Miller). This gentle silliness could have turned to treacle, but Depp and Winslet--along with newcomer Freddie Highmore as one of the boys--keep their feet on the earth while their eyes gaze into their dreams. Also featuring a comically crusty turn from Dustin Hoffman (who appeared in another Peter Pan-themed movie, Hook) as a long-suffering theater producer. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (245)

A very beautiful movie.
I agree with T burger.I did do some research after watching this & the main point of the movie is the same.He created this world after meeting & falling in love with those boys.If they made every movie that's based on fact word for word they would probably be boring.They're usually loosely based & meant more to entertain than to inform.I loved it.Story, great, sets, great.Johnny Depp Double great.

wow...
This movie is truly captivating. I am a sucker for fantasy-sort and movies packed with lots of imaginiation. I guess its the kid coming out of me. (which doesn't often go away)
This movie really does make you go back and remember all your dreams as a little child. Wishing you could fly, dreaming of far off places, magic, fantasy lands, and so on.
The reason for this movie is to take a look at how Peter Pan related to its author and his life. It is really interesting to see the parallels between the movie and the events and people he had in his life. I highly recommend it. Its touching and captivating.

Handsome-looking, sentimental tripe
Marc Forster's FINDING NEVERLAND isn't a bad movie, I suppose. In its depiction of playwright J.M. Barrie's creation of the classic PETER PAN, it has its occasional moments of real wide-eyed wonder (mostly during re-enactments of moments in the actual play), and it has generally fine performances from its cast---not even the prestige-pic atmosphere of this movie can keep the wide-ranging actor Johnny Depp down. And, of course, the movie looks sumptuous and handsome (which counts for something in my book).

But FINDING NEVERLAND is yet another example of the kind of sentimental, non-threatening tripe that Hollywood has a tendency to produce and foist upon the masses during Oscar season. This particular Oscar-bait picture has as its mantra "Just believe," but the movie rarely ever elicits the same sense of innocent wonder that this film's Barrie clearly believes in. (Its brief "fantasy" sequences---which includes Barrie dancing with a dog, or Barrie playing a pirate with a widower's kids---are too cheesily done to make us believe in anything.) Nor does it have much of a sharp edge to its potentially disturbing depiction of a writer's sudden fixation on the widower's kids; his attraction to the innocence of these kids---at least, in most of the kids; one of them, played by Freddie Highmore, still carries the pain and anger of loss with him---is depicted (and romanticized) by Forster and screenwriter David Magee as mostly pure and rather beautiful. (Yea right; so is Michael Jackson's, too?) By smoothing away almost all of the rough edges, by manipulating events to fit its banal message, by toning down Johnny Depp's usual actorly exuberance, Marc Forster comes up with a film that, for all its impressive production values, is never very intellectually stimulating. It's insufferably pleasant rather than challenging. Is it deeply moving? For me, not really; when Forster finally unveils his visual depiction of Neverland towards the end, it is mawkish rather than transporting; so is its final scene, in which Barrie tells disillusioned young Peter Davies to "just believe" that his relatives still live on.

Look, it's a nice idea, to be able to hold on to your child-like innocence and all that. But, just because you become an adult, that doesn't mean you have to lose your imagination or sense of child-like wonder. (That's one of the things movies can do best---but not this movie.) But it's hardly a good idea either to be as child-like as this film's Barrie is; in this difficult world, you'd never survive if your only purpose in life was to remain an innocent child throughout, the way Barrie tries to be. Growing up is something everybody has to do; it's something FINDING NEVERLAND apparently doesn't believe in. It's better to remain a naive kid rather than live in the real world. And of course this potentially dangerous philosophy gets applause from gullible viewers who find the movie "enchanting": it's a fantasy that appeals to them, which is precisely why I think the film is intellectually empty. Sorry if that sounds terribly cynical, but that personal reaction to the film's message is the only way I can explain why there was only one scene in the movie that genuinely moved me: a scene in which an angry Peter Davies shouts out to Barrie, "I will not be lied to." It's the only scene with any real dramatic weight to it, because it is the closest the movie comes to challenging its own sentimental, simple-minded "just believe" philosophy. Peter has glimpsed the cold, hard reality of death, and is trying to deal with it in his own way; this film's Barrie, instead, would probably try to tell himself that no one ever really dies, as long as his/her memory is kept alive. Again, a comforting notion; but it can be plain delusional to deny the harsh reality of death.

FINDING NEVERLAND is well-made enough that it's worth the 3 stars I'm granting it here. The movie probably makes worthy family entertainment; there's nothing all that offensive for parents to get too worried about. But if you're expecting something truly insightful or deeply moving from this trite Hollywood prestige pic, you might be disappointed. For all of its adult pretensions, FINDING NEVERLAND is, at heart, as childish as its real-life hero.

Neverland not the place to be
Johnny Depp put in a good performance in this movie. And that's the problem. I expect an actor of his caliber to show me something on the screen that will blow me away every single time. (Sorry about that,but Johnny has spoiled me). Instead what I saw was an actor reigned in. Did the money-mafia intercede somewhere along the line and say "no funny stuff..we're going for main stream here. Think Oscar."Kate Winslet just was not credible in the role of a woman dying of a progressive, wasting disease.Really?!When Barrie finally reveals Neverland to her, supposedly on the eve of her death, she looks like nothing but the beautiful English girl that she is. As fresh and as robust as the proverbial milkmaid. As for Julie Christie and Dustin Hoffman...what about them? Their parts could of been played by actors of lesser talent and the final product would not have suffered for it . This is not the worst movie ever made but it's got to be the worst misuse of acting talent in recent history. Finding Neverland is a medicore commercial product. The invitation implied gourmet but on arrival I got fast food. And I really, reallywanted to LIKE this movie.

An amazing movie, never mind the background...
Although I understand that J. M. Barrie was not perfect, there is no reason to relate him to the "Michael Jackson" scandal. It might be true that he *was* a pedophile, but in this movie, nothing of the sort was shown. The movie is *based* upon events that happened in the past, but is not a documentary of any sort or kind, and therefore cannot be deemed untruthful. Since the movie is not a historical film, nor does it portray any sort of pedophilia, it is unjust to give this movie a bad review for the past events.

Depp came across as a truly kind being who became very close with a family, and especially with that family's kids. He enjoyed being around them because maybe he felt that they needed a father figure, or maybe that he saw himself in the children and just wanted to have fun with them because he had no children of his own. Depp played Barrie in a manner which might have not been accurate, but his performance was amazing.

Winslet, who as well gives a rather good performance, fits with Depp like pieces of a puzzle, and the dynamics between Depp and the boys are amazing in all scenarios.

Overall, this was a stunning movie, and never you mind the reviews that say that this film was boring or stupid. This brings out emotion in almost everyone, from kids to seniors, and the only people who don't find it interesting are those who dislike a movie that actually has a good plot/doesn't have "action"/actually has in-depth characters.

I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECCOMEND THAT YOU PUT THIS ON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST TO RENT OR BUY. I GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU WATCH IT ONCE, JUST ONCE, YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH IT IMMEDIATELY. ... Read more

Description

Something bizarre has happened abourd flight #29...anightmare so chilling, so frightening, so unrelenting it could only comefrom the mind of Stephen King.Now the master storyteller of our timegives terror a new name in THE LANGOLIERS.A jet leaves on a red-eyeflight from Los Angeles to Boston.But early in the flight, tenpassengers awaken to a startling realization: All of the otherpassengers have vanished - and the ground below is only...ground.Butonce they manage to land the plane, the situation doesn't improve.Noone is there...the air is still...the clocks have stopped...and a dread,evil presence bent on their destruction is headed straight for them. Based on the novella from the best-selling anthology Four Past Midnight,Patricia Wettig (City Slickers II), Bronson Pincho (Beverly Hills Cop),Dean Stockwell (The Player), and David Morse (The Getaway) stare intothe jaws of oblivion in this nightmare from the mind of Stephen King. ... Read more

Reviews (95)

Langoliers is very interesting.
Never underestimate Kings ability to write a great story!!! With the exception of a couple. But anyways this storyline and the concept of langoliers was somthing I'd never seen before. At first I didn't want to watch it,but then I found myself wanting to watch more of it!!! Despite how long this movie is,it passes by incredibally fast. Some movies are hard to bear watching for nearly 4hrs. But not this one. Don't let the time legnth make you turn this down. You might not enjoy it at all,but you're prolly more likely to love it then hate it.Its very interesting about the a plane full of passengers in which 10 people fall asleep and when they wake up they have fallen in to a time warp. Despite no great special effects(WHICH I DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYWAYS)this movie was creepy in a sense. Esp. Bronsen Pinchot(the actors name in which I forgot his characters name). I guess I to underestimated his acting abilities. Haunted by his dead fathers voice he is always scared basiclly,talking about the langoliers,peeling magazines or news papers,and other things. I don't know how helpfull this reviews been and I'm sorry if it wasn't helpfull at all. Anyways My favorite character is the blind girl. Not sure why,but she is very bright and cunning. Well goodbye!!!

God Bless ~Amy

A bizzare movie experiance...
After watching 'The Langoliers' I wasn't quite sure what to make of it! The actual premise of the film is excellent; It's intruiging, slightly disconcerting, and really makes one wonder what they would do in such a strange situation. What a fantastic plot then! But I guess that's down to Stephen King's ability to turn out a good story. However, then came the script. It was truly awful with some appalling lines. In addition, the characters were pretty 2-dimensional. The chap from 'Quantum Leap' had one of the only vaguely intresting characters, though even this was dogged by poor scripting:"...My dear boy..." Who speaks like this in the 1970's for heavens sake? Sorry, that should be 1990's, but I won't say anything about the special effects, as good scripting and sympathetic characters would'nt have made that an issue.

The film has got 3 stars from me purely as a comprimise. Some bits I would like to have given 5 stars, and others, well...!!!
I do feel sorry for the actors then, with the exception of the 'English' chap, who was rather poor even with the limited recources he had, and though I usually have a soft spot for Kate Maberly since I saw 'The Secret Garden', even her character became irratating. Again though, that was the script, not her acting ability.

After all that, should you see it? Well yes, it's an enjoyable film with some excellent points, and some terrible points, and frankly nothing in between. Perhaps one to rent rather than buy, unless it comes at a very good price.

This Terrific Premise that become a Camp Classic.
A Jet leaves to fly from Los Angeles to Boston on a Red-Eye flight. A Group of Passengers (Patricia Weltig, Mark Lindsay Champman, Kate Maberly, Bronson Pinchot, Dean Stockwell, Baxter Harns, Kimber Riddle, Christopher Collet & Frankie Faison) and a Pilot (David Morse) have been sleeping in the Jet and then Waking up and they discovers that the another Passengers and Pilot have simply Vanished and the Jet is on Auto-Pilot. But once they manage to land the Plane in the State of Maine. The Situation didn`t improve with nobody around the Airport & It seems, once they are on the ground, it seems the time has stopped and they feel a dread evil presence. Which is headed straight to them, a feel on a never-ending nightmare on their destruction. Which is going to be their final destination for the Survivors.

Directed by Tom Holland (Child`s Play, Fatal Beauty, Fright Night) made a fascinating but stupid (if long) adapation of Stephen King`s Novel (From the Novella-Four Past Midnight). But the film ended up being a Unintentionaly Hilarious with some silly dialogue and the most awful Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), you will ever see. Despite a Good Cast (Especially Pinchot offers a Change of Pace role) and a unique story. Morse, who later appears in Two Stephen King`s adapations:The Excellent-The Green Mile and the Underrated-Hearts of Atlantis. Holland, who later directed-Stephen King`s Underrated-Thinner. Which Thinner was writting under King`s Pseudonym, which the name is Richard Bachman. Even King`s appears in a Cameo in this miniseries. This adapation turns into a Watchable Campy film that could`ve been a Richer more Satisfying film with a Larger Budget for the Visual Effects!. Teleplay by the Director. Grade:B+.

Worst airline movie ever?
Sure am glad I wasted hours of my life to find out the Langoliers were a bunch of evil bowling balls.

Ouch
I didn't like this movie at all for lots of reasons :

1. The plot = totally confusing or rather senseless
2. The screenwriting = totally unprofessional
3. The acting = Excellent when you think how crap the whole thing was.
4. The Everything about it.

No offense people as I am Stephen King's huge fan. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A true pleaser
I didn't see this movie when it first ran on television, but recently bought the DVD and saw it for the first time. For a made for tv production, it was very well done, with an excellent and stellar cast. Ted Danson does a wonderful job as the title character, inflecting his character with the proper touch of wonder, disbelief, incredulity, and disgust at the different lands and things he sees during his travels.

I have to admit I wasn't sure what I would think when I first started to watch. I had read the book many years ago, when I was in school, and didn't recall a lot of it. However, as the story progressed, I was happy to see that the more I saw, the more I remembered of what I had read, and that the movie seemed to follow the important parts of the book. The thing I had most remembered were the talking horses, and wondered how well they would do that, but it was done well, so I have no complaints on that score.

As I said, the actors all did a remarkably good job, and the special effects were decent, making Gulliver appear to be both huge in the land of the little people, and then small himself in the land of the giants.

First rate family entertainment, and well worth seeing. Do yourself a favor and get it for your collection.

Wonderful production
I didn't know what I was going to see when I sat down to watch this movie. I had read the book many years ago when I was in high school, and didn't remember a lot of it, but certain things had stuck in my mind, and I was curious to see how they would go about matching the things I had in my imagination on the screen.

Well, I'm glad to say that what I saw was a very good adaptation of a novel into a splendidly made movie. From the acting, the scenery to the special effects, this was a well made production, especially considering that it was made as a television mini series when it was released.

Ted Danson does an excellent job of portraying Gulliver, from his wonder at some of the sights he comes upon to his ultimate revulsion of his own kind as he nears the end of his journeys. A lot of time and commitment were spent on ensuring that we are swept along with Gulliver on his travels so that we can understand his feelings.

I could go on naming the actors and actresses and how well they portrayed their parts, but I dont' want to get too redundant. If you want to see a well made movie that tells a good story without a ton of violence or a lot of swearing, then I highly recommend you pick up this movie. The price is right on it too.

Charming!
* Although video versions of Jonathan Swift's classic satire GULLIVER'S
TRAVELS have been done before, most prominently the prewar Fleischer animated
version, NBC felt the need to do a TV miniseries on the story. The result
turned out to be surprisingly interesting.

The producers did try, with little success, to impose a "personal interest"
story on top of Swift's non-stop satire, with Dr. Lemuel Gulliver (Ted
Danson) held in a lunatic asylum in reaction to the wild stories he told of
his journey, with his wife (Mary Steenbergen) trying to rescue him. That is
all neither here nor there, because it really doesn't either add much or get
in the way of the real story. Similarly, the fact that Danson's Lemuel
Gulliver isn't all that inspired isn't a problem, because even in Swift's
original he was little more than a narrator anyway.

All that said, however, this video production actually remains more true to
Swift's vision than other productions, in particular including (if in a brief
fashion) Gulliver's later voyages, such as to the floating city of Laputa.
The story is presented much as Jonathan Swift intended it -- as a scathing
and somewhat sanctimonious condemnation of human venality -- but it is still
entirely charming.

Much of this was due to excellent special effects. For example, Dr. Gulliver
reaches around the dome of a building in miniature Lilliput, and pigeons the
size of insects flutter away from his fingertips. Hwowever, short
appearances by well-known faces such as Omar Sharif and Geraldine Chaplin
(appearing lovely in Indian-style sari as the wife of the Rajah of Laputa,
complaining about the dullness of the learned and enjoying Gulliver's company
as an "ordinary unintelligent male") and the wit of Swift's story (the
intellectuals of Laputa are batted by their servants to bring their attention
back to reality when needed) also help carry it very well.

I keep wondering if anyone ever decided to come up with a new printing of
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS that uses the picture-pretty imagery from the NBC
production as illustrations. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS is a great book but a old
one, and such marvelous illustrations would help make it more accessible to a
modern audience. [Update of review from 1996.]

I know I usually give 4 stars as my best...
But this Hallmark TV production was so exceptional, I felt five was the least this sucker deserved.

This was the first of an extended series of high-toned TV movies produced by Robert Halmi Sr. for NBC and ABC that had production values previously unseen on television. In art direction and general feel, this production of the Jonathan Swift classic resembled "Amadeus" more than it resembled "The Winds Of War" or "Mother, Can I Sleep With Danger?".

And considering the choice for the titular lead, comic actor and former model Ted Danson, it could have been a real disaster. It wasn't! The man acquits himself nicely as the somewhat incredulous Lemuel Gulliver, the hero of a satirical tale told by the very cynical Jonathan Swift, Britain's answer to Voltaire.

The story features very fanciful alllusions to pettiness, classic paranoia of the delusions of grandeur variety, pomposity, a favorite target of Swift's, and superciliousness. There's the tiny Lilliputians, their opposites, the Brondignagians, the equine Houiynihms, (who, I seem to remember, were supposed to resemble giraffes as well,) and many other fantastic characters, all rendered beautifully in this, the first of a distinguished list of first rate classical adaptations shown on NBC in the late 90s.

The cast list is unbelieavble...people who had NEVER been on TV before, like Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, James Fox, Isabelle Huppert, Geraldine Chaplin (hello!), Shashi Kapoor and John Gielgud were sprinkled all through it. The sets are incredible and acting superb. If either this or the later "The Odyssey" had been released as feature films, they would have garnered significant praise for production values and acting, as well as fidelity to their sources, (despite some serious key scene omissions,) and probably would have generated respectable box office.

Special effects, cinematography and scene direction made this a good bellwether for a raft of films unlike any TV had ever seen since the fifties, when top quality productions of plays by well known playwrights peppered prime time schedules.

The general take on the story treats the main character, Lemuel Gulliver, as someone just about everybody, including his wife, for a while, thinks is certifiably insane, as he keeps rambling on about the fantastic lands and people he has supposedly seen. Most of the "real world" story, in fact, takes place in either an asylum, where he has been committed, or a courtroom, where his case is being heard.

It's obvious to the viewer, too, that Lemuel has dreamt all of this, because these places couldn't possibly exist. However, a real curve ball is thrown in the end when a truly diminutive sheep is found and provided as evidence that at least proves Lilliput existed.

Mary Steenbergen went on after this, ( a lot of the actors were recycled in future productions of this type by Halmi,) to portray the wife of Noah in a gawd-awful NBC production of "Noah's Ark", a production that mated the story of Lot and Sodom & Gomorah, (sans Abraham,) with the story of the flood. There was a ridiculous dream sequence inserted in this disaster that showed that Halmi's production crew was getting a WEE bit too satisfied with itself as Steenbergen, especially, spoke bubbleheaded lines that seemed WAY out of place for the setting of the story.

She should have stuck with 18th century satires! :-)

Excellent film adaptation true to a great Novel
I admit to being skeptical, but tried this DVD based upon other reviews. I've seen a number of film adaptations of Swift's intelligent & scathing 18th c. satire which routinely treat the story as a children's adventure novel. Ted Danson is a wonder; his acting is superb; the script is excellent. On the whole, don't be misled to think this a fluff production by star-studded cast; many are amazing. The novel is treated with respect & the ideas area conveyed with integrity. A must for adults & children. My daughter who is 12 was pulled in & kept interested by the great acting & scenery - to learn & watch the story. This is the stuff that great novels & films are all about. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Filmed before (and quite nicely) in 1949, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's story was remade for this admirable 1993 release, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Splendidly adapted by Edward Scissorhands screenwriter Caroline Thompson, the film opens in India during the early 1900s, when young Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is orphaned and sent to England to live in Misselthwaite Manor, the gloomy estate of her brooding and melancholy uncle, Lord Craven (John Lynch). Because the uncle is almost always away on travels, struggling to forget the death of his beloved wife, Mary is left mostly alone to explore the estate. Eventually she befriends the young brother of a staff maid and Lord Craven's apparently crippled son, who has been needlessly bedridden for years. Together the three children restore a neglected garden on the estate grounds, and in doing so they set the stage for a moving reaffirmation of life and love. Filmed with graceful style and careful attention to the intelligence and cleverness of young children, The Secret Garden is that rarest breed of family film that transcends its own generic category, encouraging a sense of wonder and optimism to become a rewarding experience for viewers of any age. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Superlative!
This is a film that will appeal to children of all ages. A definite MUST, and this is no exaggeration. Secrets and hidden passages abound in Misselthwaite Manor, where orphaned Mary Lennox is to live after coming from India (her parents were killed in a great Indian earthquake which happened a few months earlier in the storyline.) Adding to the depth of the story is an almost absent uncle who lives in the shadow of a tragic past. There is also her sickly cousin of a brat, who just can't stand the sunlight and fresh air. Put in too, impatient Mrs. Medlock, who is your "perfect" housekeeper. And top these with The Secret Garden, a sanctuary where the story finds its turning point from dark and despair to one of life, healing and hope. It is a place where things begin, and not without the efforts of the children, to grow.

There are moral lessons to boot all throughout the story. And for sure, the photography deserves praise. Suberb! Overall a perfect film that deserves a place in a collection. Frances Hodgson Burnett would not have been ashamed to see this film version of her classic novel were she alive today. Don't miss out on this one.

A lovely, wonderfully done film
There are so many wonderful things about this vivid, affecting film: mesmerizing cinmetography, a captivating story, a pretty good script, a very good music score, wonderful acting, even gorgeous flowers! Agneiska Holland does a wonderful job of bringing out all the subtle little points and lavish details of Frances Hosgson Burnett's classic story, and also in getting great performances out of her child actors, particularly from Kate Maberly as Mary, who at the age of ten succeeds remarkably in carrying the whole film. At her most effective when biterly recalling her parents and angrily confronting Colin, also played well by Heydn Prowse, she also makes a believeable transformation into a good, caring little girl as she tends a lovely hidden garden. Maggie Smith also delivers as Mrs. Medlock, the housekeeper who seems to be mean but really is only doing what she thinks best, even if it means locking Mary up and attempting to control Colin's every move. There is not a dud performance to be found here, but those mentioned are the best. The magical qualities in the garden are very apparent here, and wonderfully demonstrated. There are many good film versions of this great book, and some that aren't so good. If you want to own only one, my vote would go to this one, the best of the bunch.

Beautifuly done but "creative" with the plot
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.

Nice Try
I didnt like it. It was not true to the book wich is wonderful.They left out when Mary was in India completely and they interpret the magic Mary and Colin are always talking about all wrong. Also Mary didnt get locked in her room at all. It was a poor job and a great disapointment.

looks like I'll have to explain the part about the chanting
The point of the Indian chanting is the sharing of the culture. Which is one of the things I love about this movie. The message is for all the people to see the difference of culture and ACCEPT it. If you have a certain religious belief and don't agree with it. Just think about your opposite: someone who don't believe in your religion and watches something that has its element. For example someone who isn't a Christian watching " the Crucible" how do you think they feel??? the only thing I don't like about this movie is that it didn't win ANY Oscars. This proves the Oscars are sooo ignorant of its visual beauty and music. screw them!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A quick tour through the wonders of ancient and modern Egypt
This National Geographic IMAX film sure gets your attention at the start, not by offering stunning vistas but an Egyptian grandfather telling his granddaughter about the glories of ancient Egypt. This does not sound like much, until the camera reveals the grandfather is played by Omar Shariff! "Mysteries of Egypt" offers the expected spectacular footage of the colossal monuments and vast landscapes, but the highpoints are the beautiful falls on the Nile and the visit to an ancient burial chamber. The only real complaint is that this IMAX film covers so much in 40 minutes that you end up feeling that you are just getting a sampling of what Egypt has to offer. This is one of those times where less would be more.

Ancient Egypt at its best
I admire the movie' portrayal of Egyptian ancient history. As an Egyptian, I felt alot of pride as I saw the ancient history of my nation and people recreated in awesome historical accuracy infornt of my eyes. The only negative thing that I saw in the movie was the absence of a link between the ancient history and the modern history (what do you expect from a movie which has the word "mysteries" in its title) It narrates history as if Ancient Egyptian civilization died two thousands of years ago with no heir, which is incorrect. Until his day we find its influence still strong not only on Egypt itself as a heir to the Egyptian heritage and culture, but also on the whole world. If the movie could have been extended to include the Egyptian history up to modern day, it would probably have been a historical treasure.

Very Basic review of ancient Egypt.
Great for a student or anyone who is looking for an introduction to egyptian history. Slow moving for most adults. There are wonderful videos on egypt ,that are much more informative and exciting to watch.

Stories of King Tut
I bought and watched this before going on a trip to Egypt. Very good quality imax movie and good overview of the stories of King Tut. But if you want a lot of details you have to dig some where else. A good introductory movie for people interested in Ancient Egypt. A little bit short though.

A nice overview on Ancient Egypt
Very nice picture format for TV viewing matched with a great dolby sound. Narrated by Omar Shariff, this docummentary gives you an acceptable information on ancient Egypt, not for academic purposes though. It's not boring at all and the Pyramids views and sunsets are spectacular. Great if you plan to visit Egypt in the near future, it will put you in the right mood !!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Stephen King's The Golden Years is absolutely horrendous
Of the two movies in this set The Langoliers was pretty mediocre but Stephen King's The Golden Years stands out as without doubt one of the worst movies I have ever seen! The plot is that an explosion in a secret laboratory sprays an old guard with unknown chemicals that begin to turn the man younger instead of older. As the government is interested in finding out more about this development, the guard is hunted across the country. The movie was so slow and uneventful that I fast-forwarded the last half hour hoping in vain for something to happen. The movie was so boring that there is no sign that Stephen King was involved in this. Please avoid at all costs unless you want to fall asleep! ... Read more

Description

Ira and Oscar, two kids from different cultures, developed an enduring friendship which triumphed over tragedy and taught lasting lessons. An aged crayon drawing found in a trunk awakens memories from the unforgettable summer of 1965. Ira was 11 years old, enjoying her last year of freedom before working on her family’s beet farm. When her father hired migrant workers to help in the fields, Ira didn’t realize the experience would change her life forever. In spite of local hostility shown to the migrants, Ira befriended Oscar, a young Mexican boy. Their summer of carefree fun was tested by prejudice and taught Ira how to be a true friend and stand up for her beliefs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Surprised by a work well done
This film far exceeded my expectations. It's great for generating conversation amoung children and teens and even adults, for that matter. It's hard to describe. View it and tell us about it yourself. Kids like to watch it over and over again. It addresses many of the difficulties of growing up. The production quality is very high. ... Read more