Advantages: cinematography, music, direction, spiritually uplifting Disadvantages: those allergic to bunnies and lambs will think it twee
...Her best films were perhaps the ones made in Poland which were not subject to any kind of a big promotion abroad, but some people might know her from excellent 'Europa, Europa' or (much less excellent but probably better known due to the appearance of Pretty Leo 'Total Eclipse'). 'Secret Garden' was made in 1993 and is an adaptation of a definite children's classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett. As far as faithfulness of the adaptation goes, it is neither ... ...treated as 'based on'. The story, the crucial characters and the main moral are all present, but some changes have been made and a lot has been left out (the movie still is over 100 minutes long). Overall, and I am speaking as a fan of the book, I think that both the changes and the omissions work well and benefit the film. 'Secret Garden' is an Edwardian novel and is written in a certain convention that includes both the twee (a robin finding himself ...
magdadh 30.11.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Secret Garden (DVD)
Advantages: Faithful adaptation of a classic novel, beautifully filmed Disadvantages: The upper and lower class divide
...is sent from India to the wilds of England to live in a stately home owned by her Uncle. Her Uncle, however, does not seem keen to have much to do with her, having recently lost his wife, so Mary is left to entertain herself, with only servant Martha and miserable housekeeper Mrs Medlock to talk to. Bored, she soon finds something to occupy her - the existence of a walled garden that has become sadly overgrown following the death of her Aunt. With ... ...For anyone who doesn't know, The Secret Garden was originally a children's book written by Frances Hodgson Burnett and first published in 1909. However, it has remained a children's favourite until today, and it certainly had a welcome place on my bookshelf as a child. I have seen adaptations of it over the years, particularly a TV series made back in the seventies, but have never felt that they captured the essence and charm of the original book. ...
sunmeilan 25.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Secret Garden (DVD)
Advantages: Stunning Scenery Disadvantages: May not suit the unsentimental
The Secret Garden is one of the most beautiful films that I have seen for a very long time. Released by Warner Home Video on DVD in 1997, this is a must see for all the family and its' PG rating is a fair one. Suited to a family viewing on a wet afternoon, the films takes us through the journey that sees a young girl in the 19th Century who loses her parents in India, and is shipped back to England to stay in a Rural Mansion. You begin a love hate ... ...by Kate Maberly), contrasted against the child that she discovers living at the mansion who is frail and ill and not allowed the luxury of being a normal child because of his over protective carers, and the fears of his father for his sons' health and wellbeing.
Based on the works of Frances Hodgson Burnett, the story is an enchanting one, as Mary learns that her life in the old Manor is going to be very different to the life she has become accustomed ...
thingywhatsit 30.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Secret Garden (DVD)
Advantages: One of the best children's movies ever made Disadvantages: Lack of extras
The Warner Brother's movie adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's Secret Garden is many things.
- It is a film where the main characters are children and yet, you do not want to strangle them because of their awful acting or turn the noise down because of the horrific noises that leave their mouth. - It is a film that faithfully follows the original story so that you are not left thinking, 'hang on, but they didn't explain that!... They left that ... ...perhaps the only children's film that I will happily watch without feeling ashamed.
Released in 1993, the Secret Garden begins in India in the early 1900s, with the selfish Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly). When an earthquake shakes the country, Mary loses her unloving parents and is sent off to dreary England, away from her servants and a life of splendour. A memorable line from the movie is, 'I didn't cry. I didn't know how to cry.'
Mary arrives at ...
madchillie 13.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Secret Garden (DVD)
Advantages: A great film for all ages. Disadvantages: There aren't any
The Secret Garden is about a girl called Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) whos parents die in India and Mary is brought to England because her uncle Lord Archibald Craven (John Lynch), who after losing his wife is hardly at the manor, is her only living relative (he was married to her aunt who also died) and is brought to Misselthwaite manor in the Yorkshire moor by Mrs Medlock (Maggie Smith) who is a sour and strict with the rules. While at the manor ... ...a lot of snooping around the manor comes across her cousin Colin Craven (Heydon Prowse) who is the same age as Mary and is worried that he is ill and is going to die.
With the help of Martha (Laura Crossley), Mary's maid who has a kind heart, Mary learns to play outside and makes friends with Marthas brother Dickon (Andrew Knott). They find a garden which they turn into a beautiful garden and they take Colin to the garden. The Secret Garden is full ...
giantpanda21 02.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Secret Garden (DVD)
Advantages: An entertaining family film Disadvantages: None
Back to the secret garden is the sequel to the secret garden. Back to the secret garden is when Mary Lennox and Colin Craven are adults and have turnes the manor into a orphanage. Mary is in America looking for orphans to take back to England with her on an exchange and she finds a girl tending to a little bit of garden.Martha is a lot older now and is in charge of the orphanage and Martha sees a lot of Mary in this girl when Mary was her age, stubborn. ... ...gives her the key to the old doorway and the girl makes the garden pretty and tells the children to play and the garden blossoms.
Back to the secret garden is as joyful to watch as the secret garden and the new actors in the film are great. The film has animals in it at the end and the animals and children work well together and the whole of the scenery is just beautiful. Back to the secret garden has a few new actors in it who were excellent in ...
giantpanda21 02.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Secret Garden (DVD)
...when i saw it on the telly a few weeks ago i decided to watch it. __Cast__ Maggie Smith plays Mrs. Medlock .I think this is the most known person in the film as she is also in Harry Potter as Minerva McGonagall as well as loads of other films.She plays the part well as the housekeeper who thinks she is doing the best for Colin but is wrong. Kate Maberly plays Mary Lennox.Relatively unknown she also played Wendy in Finding Netherland.Out of all the ... ...cousin called Colin who is quite ill.They decide to fix the garden but face some opposition along the way. __Concluson__ This is one of these films that the whole family can watch,i would say it was more for girls than guys though as the story is sweet. ...
mf4388 12.02.2009
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Filmed before (and quite nicely) in 1949, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's ... more
story was remade for this admirable 1993 release, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Splendidly...
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Filmed before (and quite nicely) in 1949, Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic children's ... more
story was remade for this admirable 1993 release, executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola and directed by acclaimed Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland. Splendidly...
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It's a special garden where friendships blossom illnesses fade away and sorrows flee. ... more
There troubled orphan Mary (Kate Maberly) her spoiled sickly cousin Colin (Heydon Prowse) and kindly country boy Dickon (Andrew Knott) discover that a world of ca...
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