Boobirt
Stylish but barely mediocre overall
Seraherrera
The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity
random_avenger
In 1904, an upper-class 10-year old girl Samantha (AnnaSophia Robb) is living with her grandmother (Mia Farrow) when her dear uncle (Jordan Bridges) comes to visit her with his new fiancée (Rebecca Mader) and takes her to stay in New York with them.The movie was a positive surprise for me; the story, lightly touching topics such as class differences, women's rights and child labor, is entertaining and charmingly down-to-earth. The visual style is bright and pleasant, and the sets, costumes and music are all careful work too. Not even the cute child actors come across as annoying. Even though the movie is best suited for young girls, it's perfectly watchable for adults too, like a good family film should be.
Syl
The story about Samantha Parkington, a privileged girl, who lives with her grandmother played by the wonderful Mia Farrow in Mount Bedford, New York along the Hudson River in the Hudson River Valley about a couple of hours north of New York City. In the beginning, Samantha is playing with Eddie Ryland, her neighbor and nemesis who enjoys bullying people into giving him money. Samantha befriends Eddie's new maids, young sisters--Nellie, Bridget, and Jenny whose mother died. Their father moved them to the country. Instead of working in terrible factories, they work in the Ryland estate in the Hudson River Valley. While Nellie is working there, Samantha and her become close friends despite their obvious differences. When Samantha's Uncle Gardner comes home, he announces his engagement to Cornelia Pitt, a woman's right to vote activist, and he plans to bring Samantha to live with them in New York City. Wherever Samantha goes, adventure follows. I don't know how similar this is to the books but it's an okay film. The acting is okay. The child actors are wonderful in their roles. The film reminds of an old Shirley Temple movie. It's for a family audience!
Maia Appleby
I loved this movie. It tugs at your heartstrings a la "Little House on the Prairie", but it also teaches young viewers a lot about the time in which Samantha lived -- and the social issues that the people of 1904 were confronting. My daughter and I have had several discussions prompted by this movie and it even amazes me how much things have changed in a century. Today's girls can hardly imagine children working in factories or women not being allowed to vote. Samantha, though privileged and isolated, admirably deals with her problems with courage and great sensitivity.The acting could be a little better and there is one factory scene that's a bit disturbing, but overall, it's definitely worth watching.
iCarlyFan2009
I got this movie on DVD last January 2004 & it is the most Wonderful movie for the whole family (even my mom like it).This movie is about a young girl name Samantha (AnnaSophia Robb) & she lives in NewYork 1904. Samantha help her friends to make a Christmas joy to everyone & try to love her grandmother name Grandmary (Mia Farrow) but first Samantha met a name name Nellie O'Malley (Kelsey Lewis) & help her to have a Christmas Wish that she want as well as helping herself too. This movie is the best film for the Holiday season & hope everyone like this movie too.I saw that they repeated on TV a few day before Christmas'2005 but it better that I watch it on DVD.I give this movie a 10/10 because it a great movie.If you like this movie, Than you will like "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure" & other American Girl movies.
