We may not be children, but I do have 4 of my own and know without a doubt that they were watching it and, though their ages range from 19 to 9, loved every minute as well. The way that all of the time lines are linked and tied together at the end is well thought. You can put yourself in the boy's shoes and know that given the chance you would have acted in the same way.

Awful,just plain awful
Review date: 2004-02-04 Rating: 2 out of 10

This is quite simply awful,a really poor adaptation of a classic childrens book.Bad acting,bad derection,bad editing,bad cast.......just bad everything.

Plot idea excellent, but film is mawkish and depressing
Review date: 2003-12-10 Rating: 2 out of 10

Yuk! This film's time- travel theme is a wonderfully original premise, but is poorly executed. The problem is the excruciatingly dense sentimentality which suffocates the viewer. I'm sure many children would feel the same after seeing it themselves. The kids are meant to be Having Fun in one of the most Magical Experiences in their lives, but are lacking in joy and laughter and never do anything really exciting - just wander dreamily round a garden. This film lacks all the magic, excitement and wonder the best kids' films have (Think back and compare it with, say, the Snowman).

The heavy atmosphere in the story, with its self-reflection and "childhood is better than adulthood" sentiments are typical of such films as this: they are made, I feel, not primarily for kids, but for grown-ups with big mortgages, moaning wives and a ghastly(!) trip to Tesco awaiting later, to pleasure themselves with dwelling on how awful it is to have become a fully developed adult. But of course children and adolescents very often (particularly nowadays) suffer a lot of worries and problems in their own lives (and they DON'T Have No Fear) and adults should stop expecting them to be carefree; grown-ups should enjoy and relish the special joys of adulthood, which is not to say we can't think fondly of childhood memories or do childlike things as well.

The end of the film, when Tom meets Hatty as an old lady, is an ingenious plot twist. But we are smothered again by Hatty the Old Lady saying "at my age [80] all people have left is the past". Rubbish! My grandad is 93 and goes on more holidays to new places each year than many folks in their twenties! And some old folk like modern Dance music and play computer games. But then sentimentalists will always put down adulthood (not just old age, which is understandable) in order to glorify childhood and youth.

Michael Jackson, own up now. You've become a director. Is this why you take so long between albums?

Rarely can the film adaptation be as good as the book.
Review date: 2002-02-11 Rating: 4 out of 10

Sadly, the younger actors speak as if they're reading from a script. This doesn't have to happen, look at ET and the film of The Secret Garden, for really spontaneous speaking. The boy playing Tom tries hard but is simply too old for the part. He refers to himself as a "little boy" who wants to "play" in the garden, but he has a deep voice, is just about as tall as the older actors, and looks a little strange skipping around the garden in his pyjamas. The score is rather intrusive too, swelling up when you want to concentrate on the words, like when Tom meets the Hatty as an old lady. I was bemused to see extra bits tagged onto the story featuring Tom as a man in a suit working in the big city, living in a quaint cottage with supportive wife and child. Not sure of the purpose of this.

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