Tom's Midnight Garden [DVD]

I really enjoyed it

I really enjoyed it

In some ways Phillipa Pearces classic 1958 children's novel, Tom's Midnight Garden, is an ideal subject for a film. But in others it's a tricky subject, with its skillful interaction of story line, character development and shifting timelines. This adaptation fares better than I would have expected, but of course a film of around the 1 hr 40 minute mark has to make some compromises. Firstly, its beautifully filmed. The garden scenes are lovely with rich colours, and the video transfer is hard to fault. I did think that this film might have an over reliance on special effects, but this isn't so. The special effects used are good but never overdone. There is a good stereo soundtrack too, and things like birdsong in the garden are very effective, though the lush dreamy music score is perhaps used at times when it doesn't need to be. Whilst it's inevitable given the time constraints of this film, that at times the story is a little crammed, though the final third is better focused and paced. Adult casting is good. Joan Plowright is great to watch, though she only has a small part, and Greta Scacchi and James Wilby are well cast as Tom's uncle and aunt. But.I can't connect onto the casting of the character of Tom. It's a poor piece of casting and needed a much better actor for what is the central character. This is consistently the films weakest link and takes away some depth and sensitivity. Given the fairly compact running time of this film I don't see the point of the opening and closing scenes. They are just tacked on sentimental additions to the story that it doesn't need, and the eight odd minutes they take up would have been far better employed elsewhere in the film. But despite these niggles the film has a lot of charm. It's a beautifully filmed piece of cinema, and makes an ideal family film with wide age appeal.

This is a magical story and has the wonderful Dame Joan Plowright in this movie, it is whimsical and a moving story line. I won't say anymore or I'll spoil it for you.I definitely recommend this

I couldn't believe I found this. It was one of my favourites as a child. The skates hidden in the cupboard. It's just a beautiful, magical story. I blubbered at the end it really got me. I need to purchase. Thank you prime

This is a delightful film.A slow, sensitive telling of a gentle story of young boy and girl from different times in history who are able to meet when the hall clock strikes thirteen.It sticks fairly faithfully to the book apart from a conversational addition at the end. All the acting is good and Joan Plowright is exquisite. Beautifully set in the late 1950's early 1960's. My only grumble was the price. Why on earth isn't it cheaper, or more copies made? Still I'm glad to own it.

I have waited 30 years for thus to be reissued. I couldn't believe it when i saw that it was available again. I have strong memories of the scenes when Tom and Hattie skate to Ely.This is such a fantastic adaptation, very true to the book. The acting and casting is spot on. And the sets are exquisite with amazing attention to detail. The production didn't feel dated at all.

I'm afraid I found the movie a little dull until we get to meet Mrs Bartholomew, played by Joan Plowright, who manages in her brief scenes near the end to not only steal the movie out from under everyone but give it a warmth it so sadly lacks throughout.So my original 3 stars for the film as a whole is lifted by a subtle but glorious performance by Joan Plowright!

- A ‹(•¿•)› Very Happy,‹(•¿•)›Excellent(¯`*• Thanks ++++- A .·:*¨¨*:·.Alles super! .·:*¨¨*:·.Vielen Dank!

I loved the book but I bought it to give to my grandson. Im not sure it's going to be his style if writing not enough descriptive action. Perhaps too much garden description. It is written for past readers I feel more when I was young.

cute movie

大好きな物語なので、映画化されていると知り、すぐに購入しました。英語の分からない私でも、ストーリーを知っていたので大変楽しめました。また、美しいイングリッシュ・ガーデンやお屋敷は、ただ観ているだけで癒されます。はじめは知らずに、こちらの商品とは別の、カット版(1時間33分・2011年)の方を購入しました。その後、やはり全部観たいので、再度こちらのオリジナル版(1時間47分・2001年)を買い直しました。カット版とオリジナル版、どちらもそれぞれの良さがありました。オリジナル版はやはり、お話の細かいところまで描かれているので、辻褄が合ってスッキリします。また、英語の字幕が入るので、英語の勉強になります。しかし、少しセリフと字幕が異なる部分もある気がします。それに何より、カット版を観ていて気がついた、色々な登場人物が所々でつぶやくあるセリフがあり、何と言っているのかオリジナル版で調べようと思ったら、なんとそのセリフは音声が消されていました。きっと、教育上良くない言葉などの理由だと思いますが、ちょっと残念でした。だからカット版も、良さがあります。子供から大人まで、皆さんに楽しまれる映画でした。心暖まる、おすすめの物語です！最後に、日本のDVDプレイヤーでは、カット版は観られなかったので、パソコンで観ました。オリジナル版も引き続きパソコンで観たので、DVDプレイヤーで観られるか調べていません。ご購入の前に確認なさって下さいませ。

Ich bin Gehörlose und ich bin interessiert und klein lustig und war sehr schön Film.