Mio, mein Mio

As a 40 year-old man, childrens fantasy films usually aren't my first (or even second) choice of movies. I ran across this film on Disney years ago, and videotaped it. It is a good escape to childhood fantasies (especially from someone who had a rough childhood and who often wished something like this would have happened for real!) I loved the music also. If you have kids and see this one, grab it. If you had a childhood you longed to escape from, see it, too. The production values were excellent, also.

This largely unknown film is okay, although flawed. Has influences from several countries, as it isn't a one-nationality movie, which makes it a mix of cultures and film-making (for good and for bad). Not just this, it also heavily "drank" inspiration from other fantasy movies in details.

This is one of those films that make me wanna be taken to a world of fantasy, especially now when things only get worst every year. If that could be possible, that would be an excellent escape from reality. I am pretty sick of reality and probably many of us are.

The cinematography is astonishing and so is the pan flute music (including a song which was composed by ABBA's former members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus - 'Mio my Mio', performed by the Swedish band Gemini).

As it was said in another review, the film doesn't deliver a lot of action, but to compensate it offers decent amounts of adventure, although without being too intense or exciting. The main villain is creepy and so are his intentions and way of talking. But he doesn't have that much of a role, so he ends up seeming less scary that he is.

Nicholas Pickard and Christian Bale steal the show as the main actors, both in double roles, but still Christian Bale is the best of the two. Nicholas Pickard is not a familiar name to most (myself included). However, Christian Bale soon would become a famous and highly praised actor. Christian Bale starred in 'Empire of the Sun' in the same year as this (1987) and that was when he began to draw attentions from the public and press thanks to his amazing performance. He grew up to be a successful adult with a successful career, even if he's not as good as he was when younger.

In each of the two roles played by these boys, they are good friends. Actually, their friendship is very sincere and humble. They have mutual respect and help each other. Whatever happened to friendships like this these days, when everything is so changed for worst that almost nothing seems to make sense any longer?

When I saw this film when I was but a little girl, I loved it. I loved the music (and still do), I loved the characters, everything about it. I re-watched it yesterday (I'm now fourteen), and all I could say was "Meh."

It certainly isn't great, but it still has a feeling to it that I adore. The special effects are shabby, the script is a little off and trite and the lack of logic bothers me. But it's still a nice film that's worth watching. But if you can, watch the Swedish dub. It makes it more logical then.

I have no idea why previous comment said that this movie is bad, bad, bad... I believe it has a lot better plot then lots of late American kids movies. I absolutely love this movie. I have seen it when I was just a teenager and now I have found it again. I used to relate myself to it and imagine that the Spirit will someday come for me too... What an imaginative kid I was!!! Nowadays I have two kids myself and am sure they will enjoy watching it too.

I couldn't believe that it was so expensive to purchase since it is out of print for 5 years, but my husband had spoiled me this Christmas, after hearing my nostalgic story. :)

I first saw this film when my mother bought it on VHS in a store... I think I was about seven. I loved it from the moment I first watched it, and even now, at nineteen, it's still one of my favorite movies.

Now, I realize the effects aren't that great and the ADR is horrible--but as fairytales go, it's among the best. I found the plot to be better translated to film than that of The Neverending Story (which is one of my favorite books--but not one of my favorite movies), and the music is wonderful. Watching the movie was very reminiscent to reading The Chronicles of Narnia, or in fact reading a British translation of Astrid Lindgren's book.

This is still my favorite of Christian Bale's many roles, and among my favorite Christopher Lee roles (the man has over 700, so it's hard to pick faves sometimes ^_^).

A classic for children and families, I must say. (And coming from a cynical college student, that's saying something!)