Reviews (3)

A great original story well told.
When Warren Moore dies as a Canadian expatriate in India, he leaves a son Jeffrey who has been raised his entire life in India and who has been taught to follow Indian beliefs including Hinduism.

Jeffrey (nicknamed Ganesh by his father) is forced to return to Canada to live with Charlotte, his father's sister. Jeffrey's beliefs are as foreign and unsuited for Canada as his wardrobe.

Charlotte is not entirely able to take care of herself, let alone a teenager who is different. She has been ignoring legal notices for some time and is in danger of losing the family's ancestral home.

Jeffrey's fellow high school students and even his teachers quickly single him out as different. He is mocked for his different way of speaking but the students and faculty soon learn that Jeffrey has an inner strength that makes him different in positive ways as well.

Some students are more generous of spirit. Tom, the captain of the high school basketball team, and Lucy, a girl at the school, take an interest in him and befriend him.

Jeffrey finally gains acceptance and a bit of local notoriety when he starts to aid his aunt in the struggle to keep the family home. He explains the principles of satyagraha to her and they begin a hunger strike that end up changing the whole town.

This movie is a great story, well told. The movie has an honest, genuine, life affirming quality ably served by the Cat Stephens music sprinkled throughout. Ryan Reynolds and Joe Roncetti are adorable as Jeffrey and Tom and Glenne Headly is very convincing as Charlotte.

More than an afternoon special
This movie has the formula that a lot of afternoon specials use, where the displaced kid knows more then those around him. The title is the redeeming factor. The movie presses upon you the lessons of magic. That it is real and works in ways not planned. At any moment they could have lost their house. Due to process and time people had time to reflect on what they were doing. So magic does not have to be supernatural. Especially ordinary magic. Similar to miracles, it is not some supernatural process that is a miracle; it is that the process happens when you need it.

Ordinary story of out-cast makes good, just better.
Thought the movies storyline strays from the book, the message is still the same. It is a very heartwarming story about a boy (Ryan Reynolds) who grows up in India. When is father passes away, he moves to Canada to live with his aunt (Glenne Headley). He has a tough time fitting in with his peers, but eventually makes friends with a basketball player. He even catches the head cheerleaders attention. But all looks threatened when the county wants to tear down the house that his grandfather built. Only he has the key to save the house, and his history. Moving and very touching. One that the whole family will love, or just you. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great movie for kids and family
This movie is based on the book of the same name which I have not read, so I can't compare it to the book. However, seeing the movie makes me want to recommend the book to children. Caddie Woodlawn is a tomboy in the pioneer days of Wisconsin. Her lively spirit, and her red hair and pigtails remind me of Pippi Longstocking, though they don't stick out at the sides like Pippi's do, and Caddie is a "real" person, not a fantasy.

When Caddie's "proper" Boston cousin, Annabelle, comes to stay with the family, Caddie resists her mother's instructions to follow Annabell's example in etiquette and manners, and instead plays fairly harmless jokes on her. But Caddie really does have a heart of gold and a sense of justice. She's appalled at the treatment of her neighbors toward two half-breed children in the community, and secretly buys them shoes. Along with her father, she insists on keeping peace with the nearby Dakota Indians.

Caddie must deal with such emotional and common childhood issues as the loss of her dog, being bullied, jealousy over her brother's love interest, and sticking up for what she believes is right. At the expense of being punished or disapproved, she does the right thing, and in the end, she is the one who saves the community from a violent confrontation with the Dakotas.

I think the acting was very well done, with a wide variety of characterization and emotions. It's a wonderful movie for kids and family.

Pretty Good!
It was a pretty good movie that we watched at school because we were learning about indians and pioneers. It's a very long movie, and gets boring at times, but they always do something to liven it up!

Great story-not the best acting.
I remember when my third grade teacher introduced the book to my class by reading it to us. I loved it then and I love it now. I recently saw the video at our library so I checked it out for my 7 year old grand-daughter and she loved it as well, and wanted to share it with her 2nd grade class. She is also interested in folk heroes and pioneers, so this little girl who was friends with Indians intrigued her. Now we're looking for the video for her video library.

The exciting true story of a courageous young pioneer girl.
Caddie Woodlawn starring Emily Schulman is based upon Carol Ryrie Brink's JOHN NEWBERRY MEDAL Award Winning book "Caddie Woodlawn." Brink's book chronicles the real adventures of her grandmother (Caddie) as a twelve year old tomboy growing up in Wisconsin in the mid-1800s. With her brothers Tom and Warren, Caddie's wild ways upset her refined Bostonian mother -- Caddie would rather swim across the river to visit her friend Indian John than stay at home with her sisters and learn to knit. Caddie is the apple of her father's eye -- but even he knows that she must grow up and learn to be a woman. Mrs. Woodlawn invites her cousin Annabelle from Boston to teach Caddie how to be refined -- the visit turns hilariously disastrous when Caddie and her brothers try to teach Annabelle the ways of Wisconsin -- Annabelle is tossed from a mare, their sheep eat every single one of the "eight and eighty buttons" on her dress -- and she attempts a somersault -- little does she know that they've stuck an egg down her dress..... Despite Caddie's childish pranks -- the novel is truly inspiring as Caddie must stand up to an entire town of men to save the Indian tribe across the river from an erroneous ambush. The men of the town are convinced that a murdered pioneer family in a nearby town is the work of Indian John and his tribesman -- as the entire town gathers at the Woodlawn house (terrified as they await a massacre by the Indians) a group of vigilantes (Mr. Woodlawn NOT included) plots a surprise ambush -- which Caddie overhears in the barn. She knows that the Indians are friendly -- but she is the only person who can avert a tragedy. As she secretly prepares to make the dangerous journey to the Indian Camp her tattletale Cousin Annabelle catches her -- but agrees to keep her secret. Finally Caddie courageously rides back to her house with Indian John -- where after several tense moments -- the misunderstanding is revealed.

****If you are looking for a true story of the triumph of goodness and the incredible strength of the human spirit -- embodied in one young girl, I highly recommend the novel "Caddie Woodlawn" by CAROL RYRIE BRINK -- this movie version is entertaining and very recommendable-- but the drama, hilarity and truth in Caddie Woodlawn's story can best be found in the award-winning novel itself!!!

We've never heard of this video. Has anyone seen it ?
Is this video story suitable for girls 7 to 9 years old ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Blue Ordered love by mail. Alex found it artifical inseminat
Blue is anxiously awaiting Hyangsook, the fiance he's never met. his best friend Alex is frantically searching for sanity after his wife kicks him out. How the two handle-or at least attempt to handle the absurd complications of modern life is the rich comic material of his brilliant Canadian comedy. Filmed and acted in a realistic, almost documentary style, 90 day's unveils the absurdity and the emotional pitfalls inherent in everything from cross-cultural relationships to sperm donorship! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Fantastic Rendition Of The Greatest Fantasy Novel Ever...
Tales is a refreshing new incarnation of "The Neverending Story" it expands on the plot, has state of the art visual effects, and mostly good acting. There seems to be a trend in reviews for this series. A trend that I don't like. People are judging this movie before they have even seen it. Most of the people who have written these reviews either refuse to accept anything different from the classic movie or are die hard purist for the book. True, the show doesn't remain very faithful to the book, but all the elements from the original novel are there, with some additions. Ever heard of a little movie called "The Wizard of Oz"? Well, that movie is NOTHING like the book and yet it probably has more fans and has been seen by more people than any other movie in the world. The important thing is to view this show with and open mind. If you watch the movie thinking it's going to be bad, your opinion will most likely not change. You will be looking for the flaws of the series instead of looking over a few minor things that may not be up to par with the rest of the show. Now this series is not perfect, by all means, but it contains everything a good story/movie/show should have. Action,adventure,a wonderful plot,great special effects, and if your a fantasy lover, I can nearly guarentee you that you will like this show. Alot of people are coming on here and saying things about this show that just are not true. Saying the costumes are sub par,or the acting is bad. If you watch the making of feature on this disk, you can easily see that several peoples blood and sweat have been poored into this production and that quality is what they are striving for, and in the feature, you can certainly tell. This is one of those series that's just good for everyone. Whether your a child, adult, or senior citizen, I think there is somthing for everyone in "Tales". It's a feast for the eyes and will expand the imagination for beyond what anyone ever thought possible. This movie is for the young and young at heart. Please, come to Fantasia and see what's inside "Tales From The Neverending Story".

Not shabby after-school fare
Saved by the Bell, Mary Kate and Ashley, etc. Those were the shows that met us when we got home. This series has the same family feel (except for the one or two surprising swear words towards the end, of the 4-disk set). The only issue I have is that this particular disk does not have the entire series, and there aren't any more you can buy. You have to purchase the 4-disk set which recently came out (UPC 76145082003), which is worth getting because it has all the episodes from this disk, plus a lot more (and it STILL doesn't feel complete!). Sebastion is not my fav character, but everyone else is not shabby (Atreiu is pretty cool actually). It is the Neverending story expanded and worth watching.

I LIKED IT!
Looks like I'm in the minority here but I think this was an excellent film. As an owner of the original Never Ending Story Trilogy, I thought this rendition explained a lot more. This version shows what happened to Bastian's mother and why his father was the way he was. In the original films I just thought he was an unfeeling jerk! The characters here were much more interesting and the story told much more about them. It is a classic tale of good versus evil, delivered in an entertaining manner. Atreyu, The Childlike Empress and Zeide came to life for me in this version. It showed so much more of who they were, what motivated them. The special effects aren't quite Star Wars calibre but they come across very well.

All in all, I found this to be an excellent story, well-written and well-acted. Mark Rendall (Bastian) reminded me a lot of Jason James Richter (who played Bastian in The Never Ending Story III) in the original Free Willy and I thought he was a very appealing boy who gave "Bastian" a heart the other actors never achieved in the original films. In my opinion the character of Atreyu in the original films was much too young and neither actor gave the character any believability, as was the Childlike Empress. She wasn't child-like, she was a child.

After my son and I watched this, we found the the next installment, The Gift, and enjoyed it even more.

Its a decent movie
While not like the book so much, it is still a good movie. I like how they link the fantasy and real world. The acting is OK...

And there is another comment that today's kids would not like the original never ending story... I really do not feel that is justified.. Harry Potter does not spoil kids imaginiations to watch different styled films and enjoy them...

I just want to see more of the video's. It just makes me want to read the book again. Which, by the way the movie encourages: reading.

Samantha

My heart explodes with sorrow
This is by far the worst rendition of The Neverending Story ever produced. This statement includes the dreadful Neverending Story 3. The screenwriting is so bland as to narratively explain every step of the story, not allowing any personal interpretation to enter. The story is manipulated to the point that names and places become merely references to objects, and not the rich allegorical themes that Ende originally intended them to be. Unlike the cartoon series, which I recommend for its attempt to visualize people and places from the book not covered by the Warner Bros. movies, this movie repeatedly copies the first two movies without any inventions of its own (except a cute character named Flygirl, but that's another story, and shall be told another time...) The majority of this movie is spent in tight, confined spaces when they would do better to reflect the broadness and grandeur of Fantastica. I most definitely would not recommend this movie. ... Read more

Description

Life has been idyllic for Jo March.Happily married, she has been overseeing the rough-and-tumble atmosphere of Plumfield, a boarding school for boys in rural Massachusetts.Then her charmed world explodes around her and she finds herself scrambling to keep some part of her dream alive.In an uphill battle for a woman alone, Jo must call on all the courage, boldness and daring of her youth to keep Plumfield going...and to survive.Out of desperation, she turns to an unlikely source of help - with no idea of the surprising impact it will have on the school, the boys of Plumfield and her own life. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

One of the Best Family-Oriented Series
I watched "Little Men" for 2 years on PAX TV when it originally aired and fell in love with this delightful, heartwarming family drama. Safe for the entire family to enjoy, "Little Men" will warm your heart with valuable lessons, charming anectdotes, and a house of boys and girls tumbling through life's many adventures.

In addition to the rambunctions children of the series, is the burgeoning relationship between Jo Bhaer and the new caretaker of Plumfield, Nick Riley. After the unexpected death of her husband Fritz, (which may alarm many L.M. Alcott fans) Jo finds herself torn between her past and her future. The addition of Nick Riley to the story-line, though a major change in the original plot of the novel, is pivotal to the series. He adds the charm, roughness, and tenderness of a man wrestling with his own past as he quickly falls in love with a woman of strength and courage unlike any he has ever known.

Anyone who purchases this series on DVD (the first 2 include the first 4 episodes) will undoubtedly enjoy it....

A treasure for the whole family
This series was based upon the classic Louisa May Alcott book "Little Men". Although it does move away from the book in certain ways, the series still brings the charm of Alcott's novel to the small screen. The scripts are well written, the acting superb, and the stories are timeless. This DVD, containing the first 4 episodes of the series, will be something to treasure and which can be shared with children and adults alike for many years to come.

I loved the book but the movie......
They killed off Joe's husband so she could have a romance? Oh sure no problem.NOT! Also I missed Meg's kids being in the story.Oh yeah and Joe's other son. The acting wasnt the best either. If you are looking for a movie that will bring the book you read to life do not count on this movie.

An Outstanding Release That Leaves You Wanting More
I can't say enough about this series that unfortunately ran for only 2 seasons. I recently bought the two DVD set of the first 4 episodes, and the picture & sound quality are excellent. Sorry, but I'm dying to say this - Spencer Rochfort's (Nick) eyes are incredible! This series is well acted with good stories appropriate for the whole family. Although it is an extention of LM Alcott's work and includes invented characters such as Nick, the romantic interest for Jo, it seems realistic and in keeping with the flavour that Miss Alcott was trying to portray through her writings. The romance between them is very sweet and is in no way "over the top". It isn't one of those productions that leaves purists such as myself feeling betrayed by the presentation of the story or characters, and now I wouldn't want to be without those new characters! My favourite actors are Trevor Blumas who plays Nat and Robin Dunne as Franz Bhaer. The DVD includes bios of some of the characters and also there are extra features for those who have a DVD-ROM. It is interesting to note that one of the executive producers, Carl Binder, (who also produced Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman for 3 years), is Canadian as well as most of the actors/actresses. It seems to be a joint production between Canada and the United States. It is very much in the flavour of other outstanding Canadian productions such as Road to Avonlea by Sullivan Entertainment. Those of you who like those shows will definitely like this as well. I was also amazed when reading the bios, how much the teenagers have in common with one another in real life. They are a very athletic and musical group of individuals. Together they made an excellent team in this outstanding family show. My biggest disappointment of course is that there are not more episodes available on DVD. I'm presently ordering copies of this release for my friends. I am hoping that since this DVD was just released last year (2003) there is still a chance that they will release the rest. I hope the producers are reading this!! Also it would be good if any future releases were closed captioned or subtitled for the hard of hearing, as these were not included in this edition.

Family Entertainment at it's Best
I agree with the other reviews. This is a great family series. I happened across it on PAX before I received my Dish network. I was only able to get poor reception and it was on the weekends so I rarely was able to see it. When I came across the DVD, I couldn't wait to order it. I then shared it with other family members and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. From the youngest to the oldest, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, neices they all wanted to get the DVD and are begging for more.

The only thing that could be better than this DVD is the release of the whole series on DVD. Hurry, the sooner, the better. ... Read more