Save your money for something good and enjoyable

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Blistering performances.

It's a clever person indeed who can capture the clash of cultures in a country that one is not a native or 'settler' of. The themes of family, tolerance, misconception, greed, bigotry, parental love are all here! This movie made me cry, made me gasp, and shocked me into remembering how a young country can be shaped or misshaped because of Bigotry...And if not careful those bigotries will still exist 55 years laterIf two twelve year old girls can find delight and an eighteen year old male looks at you bewildered that things really happened like that...Mum and Dad remember all to well that while set in the 50's some of those themes are still true... What a wonderful family film with all the right ingredients... If provokes thought and conversation that lasted well past dinner!

We saw this film at a screening with the director in May of 2004. We were lucky that an owner of a local theater chain saw this film at a film festival and brought it to our city, one of the first 3 to show the film. As a small independent film, this movie is at a disadvantage without a major studio backing them, but the director said he was committed to a theater release, so hopefully many people will that the opportunity to go see this beautiful movie.We were delighted with the freshness of the story and the beautiful scenery of New Zealand. Sally Andrews is so great as the girl, Elizabeth, and she steals the show. This is a sweet film that you can take the family to without worrying about inappropriate material. Ironically, you should be aware that there is some sexual innuendo, but it is likely to go over your children's heads, and I did not find it to be offensive. Overall the movie appeals to young and old alike, and I would highly recommend it.

"Her Majesty" is a film that is appropriate for all ages. It shows the value of sticking up for what is is important. It plays havoc with the town gossips who are led by a woman of money and power, but who has no grasp with the true meaning of the people who occupied the land before her. Yes, she and her cronies are the hens in "Music Man" and I felt the young Elizabeth was going up to Boo Radley's door as in "To Kill A Mockingbird," but the universal themes of sticking up for what is important and having condescension within one family are obvious existent realities.The only problem I had was with the character of the brother who I felt went over the limit in antagonizing his sister; indeed, beyond sibling rivalry. If he had been the boy next door, or a latent admirer of Elizabeth, I might have understood his vindictiveness.

Excellent movie for kids and family. Perfect for ages 10 and up, but 7-year-old kids absolutely loved it, too. As my daughter said, "It was so good, I forgot to eat my candy!" I spoke to several of the children, teenagers and adults after the movie. They all thoroughly enjoyed it. I specifically asked the mothers of 7-year-old girls if they were glad they brought their young daughters to the movie even though it's PG, and they each enthusiastically said yes. "Good values" was a phrase I heard very often by the adults. "Every girl should see it", said another.The main character works through issues such as basic right and wrong, friendship, bigotry, and family communication, and gives parents in the audience a wonderful opportunity to begin discussions on these topics with their own children. Finally, a good movie I'm actually glad my daughter saw.