The Secret Garden (B+ or 3/4 stars)
Director Agnieszka Holland's 1993 movie version of the 1911 Frances Hodgson Burnett children's tale, 'The Secret Garden' is picturesque, painstaking, but a touch too dramatically languid for my liking. Still, it's a quality film that is sure to delight many a child & adult. This story was previously filmed in 1919, 1949; but I'd say this is the best version. Mary Lennox (Kate Maberly) is a lonely 10 yr. old girl whose wealthy, party-going parents are too selfish to spend time with her. When a massive earthquake hits the region of India they are residing as colonialists, Mary survives, yet her parents perish. Now orphaned, she is sent to Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors to live with her reclusive, hunchbacked uncle, Lord Archibald Craven (John Lynch).
Archibald's wife {Mary's mother's twin} died 10 yrs. ago and, he has been morose & down-hearted ever since. The large, gloomy manor is run by the no-nonsense, imperial housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (the great Maggie Smith), who takes an early dislike to curious Mary & gives her quite the cold shoulder. Mary, a real spoilsport, defies Mrs. Medlock’s commands to not snoop around the sprawling manor and soon befriends gentle, kind-natured country boy with an affinity for nature, Dickon (Andrew Knott) and her pampered, but feeble, bed-ridden cousin, Colin (Heydon Prowse), who has never left his bedroom & all the windows are nailed shut because of the thought 'fresh air' could kill him. The three of them trespass into Colin's mother's secret garden that Lord Craven kept locked & would not let anyone enter since her untimely death. The spirited company of Mary & Dickon and the ravishing garden turn into a healing influence for Colin.
Visually, 'The Secret Garden' is absolutely enchanting, and the main reason to check-out this movie. Director Agnieszka Holland conjures up an incredible faerie tale world of images; retaining a wondrous, pictorial atmosphere from the book that highlights the iron-fenced, overgrown magic of the floral secret garden. Credit art director Stuart Craig for creating the glorious sets that we see. And credit Roger Deakins' scintillating cinematography for making it visually sing with rich compositions & vibrant colors -- the camera {and characters} loved wandering around the vast estate. I also commend Zbigniew Preisner's absolutely gorgeous, lush music score. All of these technical facets aid the proceedings exceptionally well.
The performances in this Victorian fable are solid, as well. The child actors impress, greatly. Kate Maberly is convincing as the pouty girl that you fall for, despite her snootiness. Her bringing her uncle back together with his son is lovely to see. And Maggie Smith steals the film as mean Mrs. Medlock; for making Colin out to be a cripple when he really was a healthy young chap all along; long-mistreated with unnecessary precautions for his health. Also good in the cast are Andrew Knott, Irene Jacob, Tabatah Allen & many others. 'The Secret Garden' is very uplifting, in the end. It is rich & resonant. But the film's dark themes could upset some kids, and as I said earlier, I needed a slightly quicker pace & more narrative verve from it.
Archibald's wife {Mary's mother's twin} died 10 yrs. ago and, he has been morose & down-hearted ever since. The large, gloomy manor is run by the no-nonsense, imperial housekeeper, Mrs. Medlock (the great Maggie Smith), who takes an early dislike to curious Mary & gives her quite the cold shoulder. Mary, a real spoilsport, defies Mrs. Medlock’s commands to not snoop around the sprawling manor and soon befriends gentle, kind-natured country boy with an affinity for nature, Dickon (Andrew Knott) and her pampered, but feeble, bed-ridden cousin, Colin (Heydon Prowse), who has never left his bedroom & all the windows are nailed shut because of the thought 'fresh air' could kill him. The three of them trespass into Colin's mother's secret garden that Lord Craven kept locked & would not let anyone enter since her untimely death. The spirited company of Mary & Dickon and the ravishing garden turn into a healing influence for Colin.
Visually, 'The Secret Garden' is absolutely enchanting, and the main reason to check-out this movie. Director Agnieszka Holland conjures up an incredible faerie tale world of images; retaining a wondrous, pictorial atmosphere from the book that highlights the iron-fenced, overgrown magic of the floral secret garden. Credit art director Stuart Craig for creating the glorious sets that we see. And credit Roger Deakins' scintillating cinematography for making it visually sing with rich compositions & vibrant colors -- the camera {and characters} loved wandering around the vast estate. I also commend Zbigniew Preisner's absolutely gorgeous, lush music score. All of these technical facets aid the proceedings exceptionally well.
The performances in this Victorian fable are solid, as well. The child actors impress, greatly. Kate Maberly is convincing as the pouty girl that you fall for, despite her snootiness. Her bringing her uncle back together with his son is lovely to see. And Maggie Smith steals the film as mean Mrs. Medlock; for making Colin out to be a cripple when he really was a healthy young chap all along; long-mistreated with unnecessary precautions for his health. Also good in the cast are Andrew Knott, Irene Jacob, Tabatah Allen & many others. 'The Secret Garden' is very uplifting, in the end. It is rich & resonant. But the film's dark themes could upset some kids, and as I said earlier, I needed a slightly quicker pace & more narrative verve from it.