Such a frustrating disappointment

Simply Perfect

As Good As It Gets

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The Borrowers (1997): Dir: Peter Hewitt / Cast: John Goodman, Jim Broadbent, Bradley Pierce, Mark Williams, Hugh Laurie: Recycled story (The Indian in the Cupboard, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids) about little people who live beneath the floor boards of a house. They do not steal but borrow (hence the title). The plot is a series of cat and mouse games where the villain attempts to vanquish them so that he may take possession of a will that was left at the house. He wishes to destroy the house and build apartment buildings in its place but he must burn the will that states ownership of the family living there. Thrilling visual effects include being showered with ice cubes, encountering pigeons, and being trapped in a milk bottle. Unfortunately the film is pure crap that borrows from other films of its kind. Formula story directed by Peter Hewitt whose terrible Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey actually looks good in comparison to this. John Goodman as the villain plays off the slapstick well but the role is cardboard. Jim Broadbent plays the head borrower. Bradley Pierce plays the boy who befriends them so that's pretty much straight forward. Mark Williams plays an exterminator in what is pretty standard for a film such as this. Hugh Laurie plays an idiot cop who should have arrested the people who suggested this film get made. Entertaining visuals within a rather dull story that steals from everything. Score: 2 / 10

First, I need to say that I have high standards. I think kids movies SHOULD be meaningful and intelligent. Our kids are learning about how the world works, after all, and the stuff they are exposed to helps them formulate their view of the world. This movie is just another "little people beat up big people" movie, giving our kids the idea that that's how the world is - good guys/bad guys, just plain mean for no reason, and you "win" when you beat up the bad guy. Sigh. The actual book has texture, color, charm, and a real story line none of which have anything to do with this movie. I am looking forward to finding a version of this charming book which focuses on the STORY, not the battle.

A movie is set in England. It about friendship between the borrowers - the Clock family and the lenders. At first, they don't know about each other, but then, because of the curiosity of Arriety - Pod's daughter, Arriety and Pete become good friends. After that, Arriety and her brother - Peagreen - accidentally take part in an adventure when they fall out of the lorry while they are moving with the lenders to the lender's new house. Arriety and Peagreen save the house from being demolished by an evil lawyer named Peter. At the end, the Clock family and the lenders become close-friends and they live happily together. A movie has special effects and a good cast...it's a great movie for your weekend with your family.

I like many adventure films, and also the idea of big and small being good and bad, depending on which you are. You've seen how some great filmmakers created a giant world in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, well this is exactly the same good creation. Basically the Lenders, mother Victoria (Doon Mackichan) and father Joe (Aden Gillett) have been lied to by mean lawyer Ocious P. Potter (John Goodman) that there is no will to keep their house, so that he can build apartments. Meanwhile, in their house also live tiny people that they (and many others in the world) never knew about, The Borrowers. They are the Clock family, father Pod (Jim Broadbent), mother Homily (Celia Imrie) and the kids Arietty (Flora Newbigin) and Peagreen (Harry Potter's Malfoy, Tom Felton). Being caught by the Lender son Pete 'Petey' (Jumanji's Bradley Pierce), he is kind enough to help them travel secretly to the new house, but they are split up even before they set off. Arietty and Peagreen are now trying to find their parents, and vice versa, while Potter has found this will he said didn't exist. Of course he realises an infestation in the house, and with the help of Exterminator Jeff (The Fast Show's Mark Williams) he is trying to catch and kill these "pests", and along the way, Arietty discovers she and her family are not the only Borrowers in existence. Also starring Hugh Laurie as Police Officer Steady, Raymond Pickard as Spud Spiller and Ruby Wax as Town Hall Clerk. It was nominated the BAFTAs for the Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film and Best Special Effects. Worth watching!