Why so much hype?

Such a frustrating disappointment

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

On his ninth birthday a boy receives many presents. Two of them first seem to be less important: an old cupboard from his brother and a little Indian figure made of plastic from his best friend. But these two presents turn out to be much more magic than the rest...The movie debuted at number six at the North American box office. The film made only $35 million against a production budget of $45 million, making it a box office bomb; however, the film was in competition with high-profile successes like Apollo 13, Nine Months, Pocahontas, and Batman Forever. As a result, plans to adapt the next three books in the series into films were dropped.Like many others, I grew up reading and loving the book series. You would think this alone would be enough to make some money... each kid who read the book sees the movie once and you're sure to turn a profit. But maybe it just isn't that good. Now, in my thirties, I think the movie is sort of dumb. Is this because it really is dumb, or because I am not 10 years old? I am not sure, but I definitely think there was a big mistake in casting the two lead boys. They just had no personality, no screen magic. The toys were fine, but those kids... ugh.

Forget reviews saying this is not as good as the book. No films are are a good as the book! Watch this movie with an 8 year old child and you will see how good the film is.Thank you Frank Oz for a wonderful film. The acting from the young children is above average and the tearful ending just right for a young audience. Interesting to note Steve Coogan plays a miniature model come to life - something he repeats later in his career in A Night At The Museum. Typecasting?The effects are also very good. Remember this is 1995 when CGI was in it's infancy - but the miniaturisation of the cast is flawless.

I first saw the film on my 10th birthday, and to this day, when Omri sends Little bear and Boone back to their plastic-fantastic lives, it still makes me well-up. The on-screen friendship between Omri and Little bear is amazing, and is seen as loving and trusting.I have often sat in bed when i have felt under the weather and watched this film over and over again. It's simply a heartfelt and highly original story and i will continue to enjoy watching it, now and forever.I am in the process of reading the trilogy in paperback, and am thoroughly enjoying it. It will be so nice to one day read it to my own children, and i hope they, and others enjoy it as much as i am right now.If you get a chance to see the film or read the book, please do - I know you'll love it as much as i do.

I'll totally exclude the fact that they raped the book. The book is delightful, enchanting and enthralling.The movie is the total opposite of all these things. The acting is awful on all fronts. Terrible directing from Frank Oz, terrible casting, terrible everything. I only revisited this disaster to put myself to sleep last night. There are only a few circumstances for anyone to be seeing this.Dodge at all costs unless you're curious about the book comparison or if you have a kid that you need to distract for 90 minutes or so. Horrendous adaptation, horrendous film-making.