It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Some "children's films" are only for children. Some can be watched by the whole family. Others are so good they seem hardly intended for children at all, and "The Secret Garden" falls in that category. It is a work of beauty, poetry and deep mystery, and watching it is like entering for a time into a closed world where one's destiny may be discovered.The movie's dark themes, unhurried pace and talkiness make it something of a gamble for many children. But older children -- especially those who have been asking specific questions about death -- may find some nourishment in this garden. The film retains the gothic atmosphere of the book and looks amazing, thanks to Roger Deakins's scintillating photography. Any kids' movie that aims for something richer than the Saturday-matinee escapism of smiling whales and preschool ninjas -- that actually captures some of the mystery of childhood -- ought to be embraced. whatever its peculiarities.By the end of the film I was surprised by how much I was moved; how much I had come to care about the lonely little boy, the orphaned girl, and the garden that a dead woman had prepared for them.The result is an instant classic -- rich, dense, resonant, powerful.

I remember watching this movie back when I was around 8 and I instantly fell in love with it ever since.I read the original book after I've seen the movie, though I have to admit, there weren't much similarities.But the movie is definitely a masterpiece, I felt like I was living in that time period! Though not so many movies can make that happen. What made this movie more astonishing is:Great cinematography. Enchanting music. The accuracy of the place & time. The overall atmosphere of the movie made me feel like I was in a beautiful dream. When I re-watched the movie today, I remembered exactly why I loved it and why it was my favorite (still is).10/10 would watch it again soon, and if I have kids I'll make sure they watch it too.

I finally got an HBO subscription so now have many films at my disposal (I've seen most anyways but still). I also had this film on DVD lying around somewhere but finally decided to watch it. I wasn't very clear on what the film was about beforehand but the premise sounded like the family friendly fantastical tale that could be worth the watch.The Secret Garden is about a spoiled girl who lives in India until her parents untimely death. She is then relocated to her uncles mansion where she discovers she has a recluse cousin (who is hidden away) who is sealed off because he is ill and can't walk. They both travel out to a secret garden which seems to improve his health mysteriously. Along the way, the two form a connection despite initially butting heads. The film is based off the novel of the same name.The verdict is that this film makes for an enjoyable time. Its an older film so the film could use some digital enhancing to make some of the scenes more vibrant (ahem Blu-Ray treatment). The film has the charm of 90s children fantasy films that movies of today cannot really recreate. While thee child acting is not great and the accents (especially of the child maid) are horrible its forgivable when you think of the films market. The film's fantastical elements are undertold as it relies on the magic of the garden and placing faith in its spiritual abilities without actually seeing much on screen, which is fine.The film isn't an absolute must watch by any sense, nor is it something that many people will have heard of. It is however, a harmless film that captures a bit of the essence of children's films of the past while establishing inspiration amongst curious kids as they journey into something fantastical together. There's plenty of cute animals and naturalistic shots for those who would appreciate that sort of thing anymore. Its not a film that would be successful today because of its simplistic presentation and understated visuals, but its solid.7/10

We used to attend Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival. If this film was shown there, we missed it. Clearly it should have been there. This is the most overlooked great film I've seen in a long time.I never read the original novel, and I'm sure that would make a difference, but as a newbie to this children's story I was surprised how strongly I was moved by it. There's something about an unloved child that tugs at the heart strings and the lead here, Kate Maberly, is near perfect as Mary Lennox, the child heroine who manages to bring life to a home that's been robbed of it despite having greatly suffered herself.The cast is basically three wonderful child actors and Maggie Smith and this film needed someone as strong as her to counter the children's powerful performances. This may be the best family movie (I generally dislike family movies) I've ever seen. There's no mawkish sappiness here.