Instant Favorite.

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Having seen several film versions of "Heidi", this one does seem to follow the story line of the children's novel written by Swiss author, Johanna Spyri, better than many of the others. However, being of Swiss descent and having visited Switzerland many times, the lack of authenticity really ruined it for me. The scenery, architecture, clothing and other details looked "off" to me from the start, and you'd think the actors could at least have had German, not English, accents. There is a scene where some village girls in traditional costume, carrying a Maypole of sorts (which is not a Swiss custom), greet Heidi and her grandfather...and the costumes are definitely not Swiss. The two goats' names, Schwänli (Little Swan) and Bärli (Little Bear), which are not difficult names to pronounce and are part of the English translations of the book, were substituted with two goofy "Americanized" names, Dusty and Daisy. After all, this IS a story set in Switzerland and Germany, and deserves to be portrayed accurately. As the movie progressed, it felt more and more like I was watching the film version of a Charles Dickens novel, not one by Johanna Spyri. Of course, when the film got to the credits, all was revealed: it was produced in the UK, and filmed in Wales and Slovenia. Really? The film story line was on the right track...but it's too bad it didn't go a step further and get the details right.

Overall this is our favorite version of Heidi in film. We purchased it and extra copies of the novel for gifts. Our family watched this movie anticipating the same cutesy antics and departures from the novel as before but were surprised to find this one quite close to the book. It is a bit more somber than the book in my view but this adds a real 19th century feel anyway. Emma Bolger plays Heidi with enough childlike charm, her shining eyes and sweet grin helped me forgive a few tiny flaws in her young acting. Max Von Sydow plays Grandfather immaculately with the right amount of grumpiness and compassion. The best performance I think is Del Synott as Sebastian the butler! The only thing I wish the director would have done differently is to spend more time on Heidi's enjoyment in the pastures. I recommend watching this movie then going back to the read the book once again if it has been awhile. It is a truly heartwarming story.

As soon as I seen this picture, I remembered an animated older version of Joanna Spryii's story of the Swiss orphan girl Heidi. Even though the 1937 Shirley Temple Version still stands out for a stellar performance, this version is very decent and adaptable when it comes to touching drama. The choice for Heidi's grandpa could of not been better portrayed by Sweedish screen legend Max Von Sydow. He brings a lot of respect to the character in difference with the portrayal Jason Robards Jr. did in the 1995 Disney version. Though Robards did fairly good, at times I laughed when others considered him a monstrous old bum. Von Sydow is too meek for that type of comment. His aura and decades of experience may have saved this film. Good thing he portrayed Christ back in 1965 in The Greatest Story Ever Told.

I loved this movie. I love old movies but seeing this remake I found I also like some remakes. The only thing I had a problem with was the accents.......Max Von Sydow was great as Grandfather and Diana Rigg, excellent as Grandmamma. Jessica Claridge, seems a little typecast after seeing her in Five Children and it but she does a good job as Clara.Peter Was brilliant, I can't remember who played him but he did the part justice. He was jealous when he should have been and yet the simple goatherd we all grew up loving. He was funny and so unspoilt, and when he kicked the wheelchair, he was all anger and jealousy. His Character is one of the most complex in the book, I feel and he was played brilliantly.It brought back some lovely memories of things in my childhood I had forgotten. I would like to see in a few years, Heidi Grows up, if possible with the same actors/actresses playing the same roles.