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39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
They did a good job with this!, December 16, 2004
This review is from: Samantha - An American Girl Holiday (Limited Edition Gift Set w/Locket) (DVD)
I was probably Samantha's age when I got into the American Girls books, and now I'm closer to Aunt Cornelia's age, which is a little mind-boggling to me. I wasn't expecting much from this movie, but I really liked it, and my husband did too. Some of the actors are better than others, but AnnaSophia Robb really carries her role. If her hair color were as convincing as her acting, it would be easy to get lost in the moment. Mia Farrow, Jordan Bridges, and Rebecca Mader all do a great job, as well.
I did notice some odd little plot changes and wonder why they were there. Was Jessie's storyline cut because of time restrictions? Was it impossible to include non-Nellie-related adventures? Did we really see, in the movie, how important Lydia (the doll) was to Samantha and how significant it was to give her away? And wasn't the jar stolen from Eddie Ryland originally full of bugs rather than coins?
Most of my issues with the movie are based on my having read the books rather than on the movie itself (although I do wonder why the girls can't pronounce "da"!), and the movie can stand on its own--it's that good. The whole family can enjoy a movie like this together; although the DVD extras do seem to be aimed at the younger portion of the family audience, they are interesting for even adults to watch once. I hope there are more American Girls movies to look forward to in the future.
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heart-Warming and Really Cute, January 16, 2005
I'm a big fan of period drama, and while Samantha- An American Girl Holiday, is clearly geared towards girls, I found myself really enjoying this film, and I'm an adult! This follows the adventures of Samantha- an orphan who lives with her strict Grandmother GrandMarie in Upper New York. She befriends a young Irish girl who was hired to be a maid for a next door neighbor. Samantha's friendship with Nellie was very well portrayed, and all the characters- included Sam's aunt and uncle were great.
This is a fun classic for those who want a warm, feel-good story to perk up those winter months, or to share with your kids or other kids at heart! I certainly hope they make more books in this series as this film was wonderul and entertaining! Five Stars.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have!, November 5, 2005
My 6 year old daughter has read all of the Samantha adventures, and was excited to get this movie as a gift. It is a nice story with all the books woven together. The acting, scenery, costuming, and music are all first rate and true to the American Girl line. Most importantly, it is wonderful to have a movie that captivates children and has such wonderful lessons of kindness, giving, standing up for what you believe, and sacrificing for others. It's very hard to find true gems like this among all the trash they make for girls these days. As a mom, I am so grateful that there are people still willing to make quality movies with traditional values for young girls today. This is definatly a must have for any girl age 6-12.
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