Courage Mountain

As per IMDB's storyline for the film: ' In this version of "Heidi," a young Swiss girl is sent off to boarding school at the beginning of World War I. '

Sorry .. WRONG! Heidi is not actually "sent" off to boarding school in this film, but rather she choses to go - on her own free will!

As usual, IMDB's misleading info. Is written by someone who probably hasn't even seen the film!

The TRUE story of Heidi sees a young girl living in the Swiss mountains with her Grandfather. She needs him and he needs her - as he realises by the film's end.

However, THIS film really has nothing to do with the classic and much beloved story that people of young & old and in between have enjoyed for many, many years. This very far-fetched film's main aim is practically nothing but abuse and neglect - right from the moment Heidi arrives at the boarding school .. and it really doesn't end until, literally, the last 5-10 mins. Of the film.

So, if you're looking for a film about the TRUE story of Heidi, I suggest steering clear of this film altogether. (I wouldn't even rate it a 1/10 AND it's definitely NOT for children!)

I grew up with a book on Heidi so thought I would give this movie a chance. It exceeded my expectations. It has all the elements of a great movie, including an interesting time period, deep characters, drama, cliff hanging scenes, love and spectacular scenery! Extra points for being family friendly!

Thoroughly enjoyable. I only slightly remember the prior film to this sequel, but it is not needed. This one stands on its own.

There is no point where you will believe this story. It is just too far-fetched with usually mediocre acting (that's child actors for you, though, usually mediocre).

The heart in this story is it's driving force. It's about love and survival; Heidi's love for, well, nearly everyone; the children's love for each other; and more.

Although the cover and title may not seem very promising, it is worth watching. Give it a chance.

Courage Mountain is one of many well-made movies that have fallen into the black oblivion of cinema history. A sequel to Heidi, the beloved classic that makes many people think of Shirley Temple, it tells the story of a teenage Heidi who is sent to boarding school in Italy, during World War One. But circumstances force Heidi and her new school friends to embark on a dangerous journey through the warring countryside, bound for the mountain that will take them safely to Heidi's homeland of Switzerland.

One of the prime delights in this movie is the splendid scenery, with sweeping views of the Alps from all sorts of different angles. As for the movie itself, it has a compelling enough plot, and one certainly appealing to the family audience- courageous children fighting against all odds to find freedom during troubling times. The characters are interesting and somewhat Dickensian, though at times you feel like we move to the next scene before we've had a chance to really get to know any of them. Fortunately, most of the cast is excellent, especially 15-year-old Juliette Caton, who plays Heidi, and the other four girls (who are these wonderful actresses, and why didn't we see them again after this movie?). Leslie Caron (remember An American in Paris?) is nice as the warm-hearted headmistress, and Jan Rubes is the perfect Grandfather. And three cheers for another marvelous but relatively unknown actor, Yorgo Voyagis (perhaps most widely seen as Jospeh in the epic miniseries Jesus of Nazareth), who plays the villainous factory owner to wicked perfection.

The only actor who is completely out of place is the actor who gets his name at the front of the credits, Charlie Sheen. Perhaps it's the fact that he doesn't even try to hide his American accent, or perhaps it's because he is playing an 18-year-old when he is actually in his mid-twenties (at the time). Or perhaps it is an attempt to have a "star" so that the movie will be easier to promote (a device that never works).

Surprisingly enough, Mr. Sheen is not in the movie very much. And everything else is really a worthwhile adventure for the entire family, without any pesky off-color jokes and bad language (a rarity in family movies these days). And be sure to listen to the music. It's just as majestic as the mountains.

This was my favorite movie when I was 11 years old and I'm 40 now and I still love it so much.