Customer Reviews

A Little Princess

5 star:		(168)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

"I am a Princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they live in rags. Even if they aren't pretty, or young, or smart, they're still princesses. All of us! Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he?"

Well no. My Dad didn't call me a princess, and that's because I'm a guy. But after seeing this movie, I was really beginning to wish I was. "A Little Princess" is quite simply amazing. It is the most magical family movie there is. I just can't recommend it high enough. I saw this at the movie theater, 7 times and it is quite easily my favorite film of all time.

Set in 1914, "A Little Princess" tells the story of a girl called Sara who goes to a strict boarding school while her father from England goes to fight the War. The school is run by a mean spirited head teacher called Miss Minchin. From the start, Miss Minchin is jealous of Sara who considers herself to be a princess. After all, her Papa has told her that she will always be his little princess. Despite the harshness of Miss Minchin, Sara continues to fill those around her with magic as she tells stories to them of a beautiful princess and her prince.

The emotion begins early in this movie, firstly being when Sara and her Papa say goodbye as he goes into war. Midway through the movie Sara hears that her Papa has been killed in battle. I have to say, when I watched this I was gone. Ok I wasn't gone yet, but I was holding the tears in. Actress Liesel Matthews who plays Sara is so genuine, and director Alfonso Cuaron definitely brings out the best in her. It is at the end which is complimented by the music of Patrick Doyle, that I really did feel a few tears going by my face. It happened just after Sara realized she may truly have lost her father forever.

The DVD itself just has a trailer and it would be great if it had more extras, but the moie is just so wonderful that you have to buy this DVD. In addition, the subtle Dolby Digital 5.1 is just right for a movie such as this.

"A Little Princess" made my heart feel so much, and I really felt like a girl, getting upset over a family movie like this. I guess I was getting in touch with my inner princess. Maybe I am a princess after all.

This was one of my favourite books when I was a little girl. The movie is well done, but I was disappointed at the "Hollywood ending" that replaced the original ending of the book; it's unnecessary and it doesn't ring true. In the book, although Sara is adopted by the wealthy man next door, who turns out to be her father's business partner and who restores her fortune, her father doesn't return. She becomes comfortable and secure again, and her efforts to be good and brave during hard times have made her a better person, but things will never be as they were before. To pretty this up with a dramatic last-minute reappearance, as was done in this film, is an injustice both to the book and to the audience; the best children's books don't avoid the question of irretrievable loss, but face it squarely and so help young readers to learn that although great losses will occur, we can survive them. Sara's father doesn't return; Beth March dies; Sykes kills Nancy; these leave us saddened but not destroyed. Too bad that this film ditched this sombre but true ending for an over-dramatised, all-but-incredible, sugar-plum ending; it's a good film, but it could have been a great one.

If you remember seeing Shirley Temple in the 1939 "The Little Princess," this is the same basic plot with a wonderful new twist. The story is based on the beloved classic by the same author of The Secret Garden.

The movie opens with some stunningly beautiful scenes from India and all too suddenly Sara Crewe must leave with her father who is being called away for military duties. Sara has to go live in a New York boarding school. Through her experiences she learns to survive in the world and takes each day as it comes. Her vivid imagination is a pure delight and when she tells her magical stories, they are played out in a fairy tale like way onscreen. This contrasts with her real life at the school.

Sara's fun-loving spirit does get her into trouble from time to time. Overall, she is just used to living with her father and being free to do mostly what she likes. In her new school she has to follow many rules. She draws strength from her father's words to help her believe in herself. He tells her that she will always be his little princess.

A wonderful movie which shows that if we make the best of our circumstances, we will be blessed in the end. Five stars for storytelling magic!

~The Rebecca Review

"A Little Princess" is, simply put, a beautiful film. The cinematography, sets, music and lighting are top-notch. The scenes in India are particularly gorgeous. The acting is, by and large, superb. As a film, it works.

As an adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved classic, however, this film doesn't come very close. As the 1939 Shirley Temple version, this "LP" simply appropriates the characters' names and the vague situation. Most of the action in the second half of the film--including the discovery of the attic room, the ashes incident, the wild chase and the ending--are from the Temple picture, not the book.

Similarly, the characters deviate significantly from those described in the book. Liesel Matthews is excellent, but she does not have the personality of Burnett's Sara Crewe. Amelia Minchin and Lavinia are both given more sympathetic portrayals, and so forth.

This is a fine movie, but it should be viewed as such, not as an adaptation of the fine novel.

ok. i'm a guy. and i watch this film. and i cry. this has happened several times. i hate it. and i still watch the film.

on dvd, the colors and cinematography pop out beautifully. gorgeous. also, the music sounds lush and engulfing.

i missed this film at the movies. wish i hadn't. first, i think the movie would be experienced better on the big screen. second, i would love hollywood to get the message to make more films like this (well acted, well written, well thought out, etc.) of course, the downside would be walking out of the theater with those tears streaming down my face.

not a real guy thing to do.

If you are familiar with the classic children's novel of the same title, you may find this film adaptation to be lacking. But, when you watch the movie on its own, it is an absolutely lovely and charming film that is appropriate for any age. I originally skipped this movie in the theatres because it was billed as a "children's film" and I'm sorry I missed it on the big screen.

Some other reviewers have remarked upon some problems with the acting. With the exception of some caricatures in characterization with the adult roles, I didn't have any problems with that aspect of the production. Liesel Matthews does a bang up job in the lead as Sara Crewe and I hope she has a long and successful career.

As far as extras are concerned, there aren't a lot on this DVD. There's no commentary track but you do get both a pan & scan and a widescreen version. There are both French and Spanish soundtracks and captioning as well as three theatrical trailers and some production notes. This is a very well produced disc for the price and a good value.

This is one of my favorite movies. So well-acted and well-made. Leisel Matthews is a very good actress, and she does a great job at portraying young Sara Crewe, the little girl who is sent to a strict boarding school by her gentle and loving father, who must go serve in the war. When Captain Crewe (Sara's father) is believed to have been killed in battle, Sara is devastated, but she decides to have as much optimism as she can. Though the coldhearted mistress of the school, Miss Minchin, forces Sara to become a servant, Sara's spirit does not die. Miss Minchin takes away all of Sara's pretty things and attempts to take her "princess" title away, but Sara will never give up belief that she and all other girls are princesses, mainly because her beloved father has told her so. Sara develops a close bond with Becky, who is also a servant at the school. Throughout the movie, Sara's strength and her kind nature will enchant everyone who watches the film. It is truly an uplifting story. It's my favorite version of "the little princess," and it definitely deserves 5 stars. I'd give it 10 if I could.

This movie was wonderful! Not only was the acting done beautifully, but the cinematography was top-notch. The different angles during the scenes gives a true, attached sense of feeling to the viewer and portrays the emotions of the actor close to heart. The movie was beautiful in content and also scenery. Although different from the book, the movie definately touches fans of F.H.B. Personally, I cry every time I watch this movie, and I'm in my 20's!

This 1995 movie is based on the classic novel by Frances Burnett, which explores the life of a young girl in the WWI era. In the beginning of the movie, we see Sara as she lives out life in exoctic India. Then her devoted father must leave to join the war. Since her mother is no longer living, he enrols her in an expensive boarding school in New York City. As soon as she arrives one can tell she is not a match for the strict boarding school regimen. The movie continues from there, with Sara's friendlyness & kindness helping her to overcome the difficult times that lie ahead. The actress that portrays Sara, Liesel Matthews, does a remarkable job of storytelling and brings a certain 'magic' to the movie. There have actually been 3 other versions done on film, including one in 1939 starring Shirley Temple. As much as I enjoyed that one, I think this version is the best of the lot.

I was very excited when I heard they were doing another remake of "A Little Princess" as it was a favorite book of mine. But why, oh why? must Hollywood think that they can improve on a classic by drastically changing the plot? Ugh. If you loved the book, look for the 1990 version instead starring Nigel Havers and Amelia Shankley. You'll be *much* happier with it.