Mio min 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?

I loved this movie. We were lucky enough to find it years ago as a rental. This is a wonderful story about a little boy who is bullied by his peers and hated by his aunt. He is magically transported by a large head emanating from a bottle, no less, to a "land of faraway" where he discovers that he is a prince. He gets hold of a magic cape that makes him invisible along with other magical items like magical bread. He, and another child fight the dreaded evil lord who is turning the children into birds that must forever circle the castle. This is a wonderful movie that is completely overlooked. My kids loved it and so did I. (We couldn't stop laughing during the giant head part!) There are so many magical moments in this story. Don't miss it!

I encountered this film in a very strange way...by catching the end credits of it while switching channels. The song, "Mio My Mio" by Gemini was playing and it immediately caught my ear. It's a wonderful song and I decided that I wanted to hear it again. I rented the movie and was pleasantly surprised to find Christian Bale in one of his early roles. Being a big ABBA fan, I was even more shocked to discover that the music was written by Benny Andersson and Anders Eljas, two former ABBA orchestrators. Being a visual effects fan, I was then stunned to see that famed James Bond EFX Artist Derek Meddings was responsible for the film's optical effects. I was quite thrilled to learn of this small film with big talent involved.

Overall, the film is above average. It has some nice fantasy moments, some good effects (and some not so good). Easily though, the film is worth viewing for Christian Bale and the musical score. And now I know that while I used to sing "Mio My Mio," to be truly accurate, I need to modify that to "Mio Min Mio!"

The only "uncomfortable" factor in this film is Timothy Bottoms. His performance, credited as "The King," would be more aptly classified as "The Queen."

Now, if only there was an original soundtrack release in the United States of this film's magical score!

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.