I love this movie so much

Wonderful character development!

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

I like to read classic children's fiction and finished E Nisbett's book not long before watching this most recent adaptation of the fantasy story. The film was pleasant enough without ever convincing me I was watching a true classic movie for children.Watching it, you'll be reminded a little of "The Railway Children" with the evacuated children missing their father who's away fighting the First World War, whilst horrible cousin Horace is greatly reminiscent of the Dursley boy in Harry Potter and of course the daily wish routine recalls "Aladdin", as indeed does Eddie Izzard's Robin Williams-type takeover of the sand-fairy character.Although Jim Henson's studio do a good job of animating "It", I didn't feel that Eddie Izzard's voice matched up to the character. Special effects were okay, like the multiple duplication of the children over the first wish and later when the children sprout wings, but without ever really astonishing the viewer as they might have..The children all acted well enough especially the youngster playing daddy's boy Robert while Kenneth Branagh gets to bluster a lot and Zoe Wannamaker simper a lot as the children's bumptious uncle and supportive maid respectively.The screenplay only occasionally meets up with the novel and I didn't like the odd touch of modern vulgarity and use of expressions recognisable from today either. I certainly got more from the parent book than this film, which might have had something to do with my imaginings of the sand-fairy's depiction not being reached and that the shots of rural England failed to transport me back as I'd have wished.Overall, for me the film's sly updating of the story for modern audiences let down the innocent charm of the book.

Edith Nesbit was before our time. She wrote this novel in the early part of the last century. The casting is first rate with Freddie Highmore as one of the children; the divine and future Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire Zoe Wanamaker CBE as the eccentric housekeeper of the castle; the always fascinating Kenneth Branagh as Uncle Albert, and Eddie Izzard as the voice of It. Okay, the story is a bit eccentric and bizarre about five children who are sent to live with their writing uncle in a desolate castle in the country. During their summer in the country, they come across making wishes that they would soon regret. The film works and is worth for children to watch it as well as adults. It can be serious at times while the children's father is sent off to fight in World War I and fun at times like the missing October and Thursday when they arrive on Friday at the castle. It's a charming film overall.

This is a wonderfully sweet, innocent movie that parents and children alike will enjoy. This is a movie that brings us back to our childhood and the dreams and fantasies that were part of the innocence of children and of believing in the impossible. The five children in this movie are sweet and caring siblings - not argumentative and spoiled children, but siblings who clearly love one another.The idea that make believe can come true is refreshing. Clearly this is a movie about love, hope and dreams. Freddie Hightower, the young star of Neverland, is just as good in this movie. He is joined in his acting ability by 5 other young actors, as well as the wonderful Zoe Wanamaker and Kenneth Branaugh - all of whom are wonderful.The scenery is wonderful - the England coastline. This is one of those movies they don't make enough of - it leaves you smiling when you finish the movie.

I am a big fan of Roald Dahl and CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. In terms of the spirit of adventure and fantasy and of the children out-witting the adults it reminded me a lot of that. It is mercifully brief and the dialogue is highly amusing and surprising. Kenneth Branagh is hilarious as the dotty and self absorbed math professor. I found myself laughing so hard at some lines I had to back up to pick up the dialogue again. Eddie Izzard is "hip and irreverent" as "IT". His voice stylizations reminded me very much of Robin Williams. It is a delightful family movie that will be enjoyed by kids and adults. Even little kids should not be scared (by much)and older kids will like the sassy sand fairy voiced by Eddie Izzard. I have two boys 11 and 14 and they liked it.