A Little Princess (1995)

Completely different from the book

This film is lovely to look at and well acted, but the script has little in common with Frances Hodgson Burnett's story. The location has been moved from London to New York, the characters are poorly developed--if developed at all, and there are many, many departures from the original book. Being a huge fan of the book, which is my all-time favorite children's book, I was extremely disappointed with this film. If you haven't read the book, you will probably enjoy this rendition very much, but if you love the story, you will feel ripped off. It is a terrific story that does not need the massive amount of tweaking that it endured in this film. In fact, the original tale is all but unrecognizable here. What a shame. July 10, 2008

Great Movie

Honestly, people need to get over themselves! I'm sorry everything can't be like the book, but it's hollywood for godsakes!! If every movie was like the book it originated from, the movie would be 6 hours long. Get real!
Anyways, I DID read the book, and while the movie did differ, i still enjoyed it. It was a great family film and to the people who have not seen it, ignore the rants about how horrible it was because those people writing that are just pissy the movie was different from the book! July 2, 2008

Beautiful, peaceful movie

This movie is a catharsis from the build-up of high tension, nerve racking, exposive movies that we take in from all over. It's fantasy escapism with a wonderful moral message brought with it. Brought to you by the talented Alfonso Cuaron who recently gave us the dystopian blade runner-like Children of Men (Widescreen Edition) but he is most commonly known for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2-Disc Full Screen Edition) (Harry Potter 3). A pre-nubile Liesel Matthews plays the Little Princess Sara. The films strikingly terrible anti-hero Mistress is played convincingly and hatefully by Eleanor Bron. The story is Dickens-like. A proud achievement in not only directing for Alfonso Cuaron but also to Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki for his welcoming, warm scenes. And further credit belongs to the fabulous set decorator Cheryl Carasik for its Time-Capsule purity. May 22, 2008

Feel like a little girl again

I remember loving Frances Hodgson Burnett's books as a child. Secret Garden was always my favourite, and I own the DVD, and the sequel, Back To The Secret Garden. I found this on DVD ages ago, but it's taken me quite a while to get around to being in the right mood to watch this.

I don't ever remember seeing A Little Princess before. Some scenes seem very familiar, but I don't remember seeing it. I know my mum owns the Shirley Temple version & I definitely haven't seen that one!

I was shocked to discover that Liesel Matthews that was quite a good little actress, and even more shocked to discover that she hasn't done anything since this, apart from Air Force One and something called Blast.

Everyone should know the story, but if not I'll give you a quick recap. It's centres around Sara in 1914, living with her father in India, until he gets called up for the war. She gets sent to a very posh boarding school, where she initially causes some trouble with her daydreaming, and vivid imagination. Gradually she makes friends, until the worst news comes - her dad has been killed.

Look out for the late great Vincent Schiavelli, the lawyer who comes to inform the boarding school headteacher that Sara's father has been killed.

Sara gets kept on as a servant and is made to do some awful work. But she gets through it, quite successfully. Who won't shed a tear as she tackles everything that is put in her way?

A Little Princess is one of those movies that will make any female, no matter what age, feel like a little girl again, believing you're a princess and having everything you could ever want. Not as great as the Secret Garden, but still worth a quick look. Just to know that inside every girl is a princess. March 10, 2008

An incredible masterpiece

I have watched this movie over and over and enjoy it each time. It's a wonderful story that is classic. Beautiful photography and makes me cry with joy at the end every time. If you love the 20th century european
fiction and heartwarming tales, this is a perfect movie to carry in your library. March 4, 2008

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